DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY NEWS FROM ePHOTOzine

A New Year has begun and with it comes new opportunities to better your photography. So, with a whole year ahead of you, what will you be doing differently this year? Do you want to try a new genre of photography, do you want to shoot with your smartphone? Or, quite simply, do you just want to enjoy the hobby of photography more? Whatever your plans, we've got a few New Year's Resolutions for photographers to get you thinking about your year of photography that's to come.

1. I Will Know My Gear Well

If you've got a new camera for Christmas or have fallen into the trap of switching to Auto as it's just easy to use, make this year the year you get to grips with your camera. Take the time to learn why shutter speeds are important, how apertures can change the look of your photo and why setting your white balance manually can improve your shots. Of course there are more modes, techniques and settings than listed here and you can find plenty of advice on various aspects of photography over in ePHOTOzine's techniques section. Don't overlook sitting down and reading your camera's manual too as they are usually full of good advice.
 

2. I Will Try Something New

Learn how to use a new piece of editing software or how about trying a different photography technique? There's plenty of subjects out there and you won't know if you enjoy photographing them if you don't try. If you're looking for tips, head over to ePHOTOzine's techniques section, ask your question in our forums or take a look at some of the photography books that are on offer.
 

3. I Will Take My Camera With Me More Often

Many of us are guilty of leaving the camera at home a little too often when really if we had it in the car or even in our bag, we'd take more photos. In fact, with a large amount of smartphones on the market, why not make more use of the camera that's on your phone and most likely with you all of the time? Yes, there is a chance many won't be great but you can use the shots to learn from and improve the shots you take at a later date.
 

I Will Make The Most Of The Gear I Have

Just because you don't own an expensive DSLR and a long lens doesn't mean you can't take good photos. You just have to think more about what the gear you have is capable of capturing and focus your energy into taking good shots of that with it. Plus, if you do want to photograph a particular subject but don't think you have the right gear, there are often ways to get around it. For example, for wildlife photography, you'll need longer lenses, a tripod etc. when taking your shots out in the wild which means it's not an ideal subject for compact users. However, you can capture wildlife shots at a zoo or wildlife park where you can get closer to the wildlife, making it easier for you to capture frame-filling shots.

What photographic themed resolutions have you made? Share them in the comments below. 

 

 

With black & white camera modes, apps that can turn your phone shots mono and various black & white editing techniques available, black & white photography is more accessible than ever but if you've never produced a black & white shot, why should you? Well, we've put together a quick list of reasons that may just persuade you to give black & white photography a go, plus we've linked to various black & white tutorials as well as mentioned a few tips further down in the article.

 

1. It Makes You Think About Composition More

 

As Robin Whalley said in a previous article: "To achieve a good black and white image you need to have separation between the elements in the frame. If you can’t distinguish or find it difficult to distinguish between the elements the image will lack impact and the viewer will struggle to understand it."

With this in mind, it makes you search harder for an interesting composition that includes strong foreground interest. Strong shapes and lead-in lines work well as do other strong, distinctive shapes further back in the composition that the eye can easily identify even when everything has a similar tone.
 

2. Interesting Take On Snow Photography

 

As most of us have seen snowfall over the last week, now's a good time to talk about photographing snow in a black & white format. Black & white snow-filled landscapes will not only give you something a little different to what the majority of people photograph but it can also stop shots with pale, snow-laden skies from looking boring and lacking in contrast. As mentioned above, contrast is important so look for strong recognisable shapes that can be easily isolated from the white background. For more tips on black & white snow photography, take a look at John Gravett's article.

 

3. Not As Distracting

 

As colour's stripped away and shots become reliant on tones, texture and contrast, everything seems simpler and there are not as many distractions to contend with. Focus falls on your main subject more easily and when shot right, can have a lot of impact.

 

4. Helps Create Mood

 

Mood essentially relates to the lighting in a shot and when you shoot on a cloudy, unsettled day, working in black & white will give you a shot that's far more foreboding than a shot in colour. It's far easier to create a sense of a dark and brooding landscape with black & white than it is colour.
 

5. Soft Or Strong? 

 

During post-production you can Darken certain areas of your shot while lightening other areas, creating contrast as you do. You can create a soft black & white effect or go all out and apply one that's strong. There are various methods for doing this including applying an S-Curve or using the dodge and burn tools. Take a look at these tutorials for more tips:

• How To Turn A Coloured Landscape Mono
• Make A Moody Black & White In Photoshop Elements
• Turning A Coloured Image Black & White
• Create Black And White Images In Paint Shop Pro
• Convert Your Images To Mono With Gradient Maps

   

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

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The latest winner of our popular daily photography theme which takes place in our forums have been chosen and congratulations go to Leedslass1 (Day 29 - Night Winter Shots)

 

Daily Theme Runners-Up

If you didn't win this time, keep uploading your images to the daily competition forum for another chance to win! If you're new to the Daily Theme, you can find out more about it in the Daily Theme Q&A. 

Well done to our latest runners-up, too, whose images you can take a look at below.

  Day 24

Urban Portraits

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Day 25

Christmas

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Day 26

Fill-In Flash Portraits

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  Day 27

'Technology' Theme

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Day 28

Mountains In Winter

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Day 30

Black & White Winter Theme

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Day 31

Paths & Lines In Cities

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You’ll find the Daily Themes, along with other great photo competitions, over in our Forum. Take a look to see the latest daily photo contests. Open to all levels of photographer, you’re sure to find a photography competition to enter. Why not share details of competitions with our community? Join the camaraderie and upload an image to our Gallery.

So, you've waved goodbye to your photo journeys of last year are raring to get the new photographic year off the starting line with a bang but you're not sure where to start... Well, how about getting stuck into a photo project that can take you right through from 1 January to New Year's Eve? A 365-project is an obvious choice but there are other options for those who don't want to commit as much time to a project or if you'd like more of a challenge, there's an even more time-intense task you can take on. Have a read of our suggestions below and see which creative project appeals the most. You could even use ePz's blog system to share your project with other members on site. 

 

1. 365 Day Project

Photo Joshua Waller 

 

Even though this is something many will have done, it's still worth a mention but be warned; it's not as easy as it sounds! Basically, you need to take a photo every day for a year. Sounds straightforward but when you've done a few, inspiration could start to wear thin. The key is to not think too grand all of the time. Yes, it would be great to have 365 cracking landscape shots but it's just not feasible most of the time. Look at small details, get creative with apps, get out of your comfort zone and try something new...these are all ways you can keep your 365 project both creative and interesting. Another point to remember is to always carry a camera with you. This doesn't have to be a DSLR but do make sure you have your Smartphone, compact or even a film camera (if that's your thing) with you so you never miss an opportunity. If you do miss a day, don't beat yourself up too badly, just take two shots the following day (we won't tell anyone you bent the rules slightly). 

  2. 52 Week Project

Photo Joshua Waller 

 

If taking a photo every day seems a little daunting how about one a week? This could be of anything and everything or how about giving it a theme? Take a portrait shot every week for a year or how about taking a photo of a dinner at least once a week? There's plenty of things to try, you just need to get those grey cells working and think of something that really gets you excited about the project so you see it through to completion. 

 

3. 12 Hour Photo Project 

 

 

Pick a day and take a photo every hour for 12 hours. A workday may prove to be difficult but a day out at the coast, a day while you're on your annual vacation or a weekend in the city should provide you plenty of opportunities to take a photo every hour. It'll give you the opportunity to expand your photographic skills, taking photos in various lighting situations, locations and from a variety of angles. 

 

4. Photograph 1 Item / Object

 

If you don't want to set yourself time limits you could focus your attention on one object/item for a year. This, for example, could be a particular tree in your garden or landscape that you take a shot of from the same spot for an X amount of times. You could also pick an item and take it to various locations throughout the year to photograph. Timelapse could also be an option, especially in spring when you can capture flowers blooming in your garden. For broader themes, think of items you'll be able to capture images of in one place such as shop signs in towns. 

 

5. Take On An A-Z Challenge

 

This is one that can be completed in an afternoon while you take a walk around your local town so won't be too time-consuming but it will still challenge you to look at the world through a more creative eye. This project is something we've actually discussed before so won't go into much detail but basically, you capture shots of items around you that are shaped like letters of the alphabet. For more tips, have a read of this: Kickstart Your Creativity With An A - Z Photo Project

 

6. Think In Colour

 

This is project that you can shoot over several days, weeks or even months and the key is to focus just on one colour which means you can capture photos of various subjects so long as the colour theme matches. It's also a great project to keep running alongside your other photography pursuits. 

 

7. Self Portrait Project

 

'Selfies' are all the rage and can be captured with any camera and anywhere (they've even been captured in the International Space Station!). Take on the 'daily self-portrait' project for a week, month or even a year and you'll have an interesting collection of images that document your face, clothing choices etc. for a small pocket in time. 

 

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

Complex masking has long been a bottleneck in photography workflows. Intricate details in portraits, products, or wedding shoots can turn simple edits into hours of painstaking work. Aiarty Image Matting helps photographers remove image background with AI quickly and accurately, preserving fine details and transparency. 

 

 

Aiarty Image Matting is an AI-powered image background remover. It handles tricky subjects like hair, sheer fabrics, glass, and fine textures, preserves fine details and transparency, and allows seamless background blending. With intuitive controls and batch processing, it streamlines post-production while keeping full precision and offline processing for photographers who demand professional-quality results.

 

43% Off Aiarty Image Matting - ePHOTOzine Exclusive

Aiarty Image Matting is available at special discounted prices for photographers: the lifetime license is now $65 (was $109), and the 1-year license is now $39 (was $69).

What’s better, as an ePHOTOzine reader, you can enjoy an extra $5 off by applying the coupon code NYSPECIAL at checkout before Jan. 31, 2026. Don’t miss these limited-time deals!

 

Benefits of getting Aiarty Image Matting:

• Use on up to 3 Windows or Mac computers
• One-time payment, no subscriptions, no recurring fees, and no hidden costs
• Lifetime license offers free upgrades permanently
• 30-day money-back guarantee

 

AI Background Removal Built for the Most Challenging Details

Aiarty Image Matting uses four dedicated AI matting models, each optimized for different image types and shooting scenarios:

• AlphaStandard V2: Blends edges naturally for transparent and semi-transparent subjects.
• AlphaEdge V2: Produces clean, well-defined outlines for subjects that require sharper edges.
• EdgeClear V2: Handles fine textures and small details without losing edge structure.
• SolidMat V2: Provides stable, artifact-free extraction for solid objects.

 

Powered by SOTA AI engine, Aiarty delivers stable, artifact-free cutouts across challenging subjects:

Hair & Fur: The AI easily remove image background while preserving delicate hair strands and fine animal fur. Edges remain smooth and natural, perfect for portraits, pets, and wildlife photography.

 

 

Transparent Objects: It effectively processes glass, smoke, sheer fabrics, and other semi-transparent elements. The AI respects light behavior and material translucency, allowing subjects to merge convincingly with any new background.

 

 

Low Contrast Subjects: Aiarty can effectively separate subjects that blend into the background. Subtle tonal differences are detected accurately, producing precise cutouts without losing essential details.

 

 

Complicated Backgrounds: Aiarty isolates the subject from busy and cluttered product setups cleanly while preserving fine details and removing distractions efficiently.

 

 

Seamless AI Background Replacement for Any Project

Aiarty allows photographers to quickly apply new backgrounds, solid colors, gradients, or custom scenes. With a single click, photos are ready for passport photos, e-commerce listings, graphic design, social media content, and a variety of other creative projects.

 

 

Advanced Controls for Precise Mask Refinement

Aiarty goes beyond one-click background removal with advanced editing controls that allow fine adjustment of transparency, edges, and mask boundaries. Tools like Brush, Erase, Dodge, and Burn selectively recover or soften details for smoother transitions in challenging areas. The Alpha Mask Inversion option makes it easy to swap masked regions, while edge and tone refinement tools help smooth contours, balance brightness, and correct minor artifacts.

 

 

Enhanced Source Quality for Cleaner, More Accurate Cutouts

The built-in AI Image Enhancer in the Edit panel allows photographers to optimize source images before masking. It can enhance resolution by x1 or x2, sharpen details, reduce noise, and repair soft or low-quality images, helping the AI produce cleaner edges and more precise background removal results.

Lightweight editing controls such as crop and rotate make it easy to refine composition and framing, smooth the workflow and ensure a polished final output for both digital delivery and print.

 

 

High-Volume, Secure Offline Workflows

Aiarty Image Matting is designed for high-volume production environments where speed, consistency, and privacy matter. Using automatic AI detection, it identifies subjects and background regions across an entire batch of images, allowing photographers to remove image background with AI in a single click, supporting up to 3,000 images in one batch.

All processing is performed locally on the device, no cloud uploads, no privacy concerns, and fast, responsive performance even without an internet connection.

 

Time-Limited Holiday Offer for 2026 Celebration

Aiarty Image Matting is now available at up to 43% off in the time-limited New Year Sale. Apply the code NYSPECIAL at checkout to save an extra $5. The deal is valid till January 31, 2026. Lifetime license works on up to 3 devices, supports unlimited image processing, and includes lifetime upgrades. With a one-time payment and no subscriptions, it’s the perfect investment for photographers seeking professional-grade background removal. 

 

Aiarty Image Matting: The Best Image Background Removal for Photographers

Even without a high-end graphics card or powerful computer, Aiarty Image Matting can accurately remove complex backgrounds. Whether you’re editing product photos or portrait shots, Aiarty Image Matting offers a fast, precise, and reliable solution, making it the ideal choice for photographers.

 

Previously we've talked about setting yourself a colour challenge but if you want a challenge that's slightly shorter or fancy taking on a few throughout the year, have a go at our one lens challenge. 
 

Basically, we want you to select one lens, yes just one, go for a walk, take a series of shots then share them with ePz. Try to make it a lens you've not used for a while, or one that takes you out of your comfort zone.

A lens with a fixed focal length would be our choice for this but if you only have a zoom take that along and pick just one focal length to use. If you don't, it won't be much of a challenge! If you're not a DSLR owner or you are but don't fancy carrying it around with you, don't worry as a compact will be just as useful for this task.

Above: Will you choose a wide-angle or more telephoto focal length to work with? 

Working hand-held shouldn't be a problem but if it's a particularly dull day or you just like having a little extra support take a tripod along. As you're only using one lens there's no real reason to take a bag along but do pocket some spare batteries and a polarising, UV and ND filter as you never know when they'll come in handy. Polarising filters are great for reducing glare and an ND filter can help slow shutter speeds, too.

Wildlife or going more specific, birds and ducks could be a theme you choose for your project. 

Before you start snapping away you really need to think about what you're going to photograph because without a zoom your focal length is limited so rather than relying on the lens to do the work you have to get those grey cells warmed up and your feet moving to find a position/shot that works.

Try shooting a variety of subjects or why not set yourself a theme? Photograph a series of portraits – your neighbours, butcher, postman or combine two challenges together and only photograph items of a certain colour with a fixed focal length. Try making it even more challenging by only taking a single shot for each of the items/people/animals you pick to photograph.
 

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

 

What Are Paths And Lines And Why Do It?

Basically, when you look at a photo, your eye is naturally drawn to a certain point and to make sure the viewer of your shot focuses on the right spot in your image, you can create a "path" for the eye to follow through the scene. This won't work for every shot but do consider it before hitting the shutter button.

 

Photo by David Clapp

  What To Use As Paths?  When shooting outdoors, there are lots of elements that can be used to achieve this effect fairly easily.

Examples of paths:

• Lines in crop fields
• Roads
• Fences
• Streams
• Trails
• Walking Paths 

These are just a few of the things you can use to guide the eye through a shot. The image above illustrates this well, with the lines leading the eye through the image to the castle in the background.

For tips on using converging verticals and lines, read this tutorial: When Are Converging Verticals And Lines A Good Thing?


  Guide The Eye With Blur If using lines won't work, try using blur to guide the eye to a particular point of focus. For example, this could mean using a shallow depth of field to make your person 'pop' from the frame. For more tips on using apertures creatively, have a look at this tutorial: Creative Aperture / Depth Of Field

We also have this tutorial with a few focusing tips to get you thinking about your photography more creatively: Think About Your Focus

Photo by David Clapp - www.davidclapp.co.uk
  Give Moving Objects Space

If you are photographing moving objects, consider which way they are heading. For example, if the object is on the left side of your shot and heading out of the frame, rather than into the centre, this will ultimately lead the eye away from the main body of the image and can also frustrate the viewer with its mystery destination. Having the object, or objects, heading towards the middle of the frame will make the image more pleasing to the eye and will stop the object from guiding the viewer's eye out of frame. For more tips, take a look at this tutorial: Looking/Moving Space.

 

Spring may be a long way off but this doesn't mean you have to wait until flowers start raising their heads out of the ground to start photographing them. Your local florist or supermarket will have a selection of flowers you can take home and turn into a photographic subject all year round and the best bit is that you get to stay warm and dry as you can shoot your images from the comfort of your home.

 

1. Gear Choices 

When it comes to gear, a compact with macro capabilities can work just as well as a more advanced camera that uses interchangeable lenses so don't be put off if you don't have a macro lens and DSLR in your camera bag. A tripod's always handy but as you're working indoors you don't have to worry about using anything too robust and you can use a variety of light sources (something we discuss further into the piece).
 

2. Backgrounds

A sheet of white Colormatt makes a good background but you can also use a white sheet of paper, material or anything else you think will work well! A white nylon shower curtain or even unbleached baking paper can work well when using natural light as they can easily be taped to windows. A Wimberley Plamp is useful for holding backgrounds in place as long as you have somewhere sturdy for the other end to clip on to. A Spare tripod or even a light stand will work well as your support for the clamp but if you don't have a clamp, taping your background to the stand can work just as well. Clothes rails also make good stands as backgrounds can be clipped to the horizontal bar you'd usually hang clothes from or you could use a still-life table if you have one. 

 

 

3. Props & Vases

Having a selection of vases and other containers to choose from will be useful as you'll not be stuck with just one option if you find it to be particularly difficult to work with and clothes pegs, masking tape and florist wire are all useful items to add to your collection of tools so you can persuade stems to go in a particular direction or move an unsightly leaf out of view. To add more height, try using plant stands or any other sturdy object that'll give you the boost in height. 
 

4. Natural Light

Working with natural light is often the easiest and cheapest option but if you do have studio lights to hand, do consider using them. If you want to get a little more creative why not try using a desk lamp or similar which has a bendy neck to make the positioning easier? Do check your white balance, though, as depending on the bulb you have in the light it may need adjusting. Reflectors will always be useful and as DIY versions are easy to make, it means you can create a tool that's great for bouncing a bit of light back into your shot rather inexpensively. All you need is a piece of card covered in foil or you could simply try using a white piece of card. 
 

5. Adjust The Flowers 

Once set up, it's important that you spend some time turning the flower(s) and adjust the positioning while looking through the viewfinder or at your camera's screen. Look from above, from underneath, the front, the back, the edge – there’s usually one angle that suddenly stands out and is 'the one' that you should shoot. 
 

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

 

Nikon has introduced the NIKKOR Z 24-105mm f/4-7.1 zoom lens to its full-frame Z series, a lightweight and versatile option for photographers and creators in everyday use. With a wide focal range that covers landscapes, portraits, and close-up shots, this lens is designed to be easy to carry while still delivering sharp detail and smooth autofocus. Its compact build makes it a practical travel companion, and its budget-friendly price point opens up full-frame creativity to more users.

Sales start on 22 January 2026 with a recommended retail price of £529 in the UK and €619 in ROI.

 

From Nikon:

Nikon adds the highly versatile NIKKOR Z 24-105mm f/4-7.1 zoom lens to its range of Nikon Z full-frame lenses. With its lightweight build, flexible wide-angle to mid-telephoto reach, and superb close-up performance, this travel-friendly full-frame zoom lens inspires discovery. Easy to carry and to handle, it's perfect for photographers and content creators who want to explore their creative potential.

The NIKKOR Z 24-105mm f/4-7.1 makes a brilliant travel companion and a great everyday muse. Photos or video, the 24-105mm focal-length range allows plenty of space for experimenting with framing and composition, while the smooth, fast autofocus helps to get the best out of every shot. Sharp close-up performance encourages new subjects and perspectives: users can capture beautifully balanced detail shots thanks to a short minimum focus distance at both ends of the zoom range and a 0.5x reproduction ratio.

Lightweight and sealed for comfortable portability, the NIKKOR Z 24-105mm f/4-7.1 is a great walkaround lens: perfect whether capturing the vibe of a destination on a trip away or getting in valuable daily practice. It balances beautifully with smaller full-frame Z cameras like the Z5II, creating a compact kit that's ready to go whenever the creative urge calls.

Dirk Jasper, Product Manager at Nikon Europe, comments: "With the NIKKOR Z 24-105mm f/4-7.1 we're taking another step towards making dynamic full-frame photography attainable for even more people. If you're just starting out on your full-frame journey, this versatile, budget-friendly zoom lens delivers the flexibility and the image quality you need to try new ideas and expand your creativity with confidence."

 

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Summary of key features

Versatile 24-105mm focal-length range: the broad wide-angle to medium-telephoto focal-length range is great for everything from landscapes and cityscapes to interiors, portraits, detail shots, and video.

Lightweight and easy to carry: this full-frame zoom lens weighs just 350 g (approx.). When paired with the Z5II full-frame camera, the complete kit totals only 1050 g (approx.).

Superb close-up performance: a 0.5x reproduction ratio enables close-up shots with nicely balanced background elements. The minimum focus distance is just 0.2 m at 24mm, and 0.28 m at 105mm.

Fast, quiet autofocus: a high-speed stepping motor (STM) powers smooth, whisper-quiet AF. It performs brilliantly with a Z camera's subject detection, and focusing sounds won't ruin video footage.

Customisable control ring: for the smooth, silent adjustment of key settings. Easily switch to manual focus, adjust ISO, or make precise aperture adjustments to create a natural shift in brightness when shooting video.

Travel partner: sealing helps keep out dust and drips, for worry-free portability.

New HB-93B bayonet lens hood: Available as an optional accessory. Minimises stray light and reduces flare.

Budget-friendly: the NIKKOR Z 24-105mm f/4-7.1 zoom lens will be available solo and in kits with selected camera bodies (details to be found with your local Nikon authorised dealer or on local Nikon pages).

For more information, please visit the Nikon website.

When you first think of a snowy day captured in an image, black & whites tones are probably not what first spring to mind. However, in the right conditions and with the right subjects,  working in monochrome on snowy days can work well and give you a collection of winter images that are rather eye-catching. To get you thinking more about mono, here's 5 tips to get you started on your journey into black & white snow photography. 

 

Photo by David Clapp

 

1. The Weather Matters

When skies aren't a brilliant blue, turn your attention to the black & white medium as when your shot has a heavy snow-filled sky in it, your image will have much more punch to it if captured in black & white. Mist can help to separate foreground detail from background too. Make sure you wrap up in severe cold weather.

 

2. Strong Shapes Are A Must

As with most forms of black & white photography, you need strong, recognisable shapes in your shot for it to work. The skeletal trees of winter create interesting shapes which are perfect for snow-themed black & white landscapes. Livestock, rock formations and stone walls all work well as foreground interest, too.

 

3. Foreground Interest Is Important

If you just have a blanket of white snow, generally your image won't really work as there won't be any depth to it. The reason we say 'generally', however is because a blanket of snow can work in abstract images where you just have one main focus point that's starkly different to the pale snow (as shown in David's shot above). Find something that will lead the eye through the image or if there's nothing to guide the eye, just ensure there's at least one part of the foreground that adds texture and interest to your shot. 

 

4. Converting To Black & White 

There's always the option to take your shots in colour then convert them when back home in front of your computer. When converting images to black & white it's important to pay attention to the colour channels, as John Gravett explained in a previous article where he said: "Look at each of the red, green and blue colour channels to see which gives the best effect. Often, if you have a broad landscape with a blue sky, the red channel will darken the sky and give the picture real impact, it will also have the benefit of cutting any distant haze in the picture."

 

5. Stay Warm And Safe

This one isn't really about your photos but your safety. It will be bitterly cold when snowing so don't spend too long outside and always dress appropriately. Tell people where you are going and don't put yourself in danger for the sake of the perfect image.