Photography News

Photos (top and right) by David Clapp - www.davidclapp.co.uk

Even though panoramas, like the one above, are great, there are a few ways you can get more creative with them. Here we have five ideas for shooting creative panoramas but if you have any more, please feel free to add them in the comments.

 

People Panoramas

If you're out with a group of friends or at a social gathering, a panorama is an interesting way of capturing a group portrait. Whether it be at a picnic, or just a get together at someone's house, a panorama is a unique way to include everyone in a photo with ease. Try using different poses and expressions to create a shot which is more dynamic and fun. Many cameras now have panorama modes built in where you often have to just hold the shutter button while panning the camera around to take your shot, making it easier to produce good panoramas. Plus, small compacts can be slipped into pockets and bags, meaning they won't take up too much room when you're out.

 

Vertical Panoramas

Vertical panoramas can be used to give vertical objects more presence. They are great for when you're capturing tall trees and buildings, as they give you a real sense of height and grandeur. It is also ideal for capturing waterfalls, wind turbines and windmills. For more tips on shooting vertical panoramas, have a look at this article: Basic Tips On Shooting Vertical Panoramas

  360 Degree Panoramas

For something more quirky, try shooting a 360-degree panorama. You can buy gadgets that do this or some cameras have 360°/180° panorama modes built in. Don't worry if your camera doesn't have a 360-degree panorama setting, as you can stitch several panoramas together to create a similar look. Take a look at our stitching tutorial for more information.
 

Seasonal Panoramas

These work really well in woodland where the changing of the seasons is really visible. Try taking four different panoramas: one in the summer, autumn, winter and spring, in the same location. It will take you a year to get all your images, but once you have them, you will be able to combine them to create a really stunning image showing the changing of the seasons that will be fit for any wall.

  'Following An Object' Panorama

This works really well with a pet or motor vehicle. Take snaps of the animal or object as it moves, preferably running for the animal. This can be achieved really easily by setting your camera to continuous shooting mode. Then just combine your results.

  

© Nikon

 

Nikon has released firmware version 2.00 for the ZR, its full-frame compact cinema camera, and it is the first major update since the camera launched. The update adds Log3G10 gamma support when recording in the compact H.265 format, allowing shooting that incorporates RED color science. It also lets users select the level of High ISO NR and assign more functions to the command dials and function buttons. For monitoring, the ZR now offers focus peaking when recording in R3D NE1 format and 3D LUT support for HDMI output.

 

From Nikon:

 

Nikon is pleased to announce the release of firmware version 2.00 for its full-frame compact cinema camera, the Nikon ZR, scheduled for release soon.

Firmware version 2.00 is the first major update for the Nikon ZR since its launch, further expanding creative capabilities and enhancing production workflows. The update adds support for Log3G10 gamma when recording in the compact H.265 video file format, enabling shooting that incorporates RED color science.

The new update also brings the ability to select the level of [High ISO NR], supporting image rendering tailored to the creator's intent and the visual tone of each production. Additionally, more functions can now be assigned to the command dials and function buttons, enabling single-action access to key settings for a significant improvement in operability.

What's more, the addition of a focus peaking display when recording in R3D NE1 format, together with support for applying a 3D LUT to HDMI output, enables efficient monitoring during shooting. With these updates, the ZR becomes more versatile and easier to use in a wide variety of situations.

Nikon will continue to enhance its products through firmware updates that address user needs, while also contributing to the development of imaging culture in the field of cinema. To find out more, please visit the Nikon website.

 

FOOTNOTES

1 R3D NE is a RAW format developed for Nikon cameras to deliver the distinctive color science of cinema cameras from RED Digital Cinema Inc.

© Canon

 

Canon has announced a new firmware update for the EOS C400, EOS C80 and EOS C50. All three cameras get Multi-Matrix Support for color and saturation control, plus more customization options for lens buttons, control dials and assignable buttons. The EOS C400 and EOS C80 gain autofocus support in Slow & Fast mode at additional frame rates between 60 and 120p, and the EOS C50 can now use compatible Canon Speedlite flash accessories. The update will be a free download from December 2026.

 

From Canon:

 

Canon announces a new firmware update for its Cinema EOS range, introducing a series of enhancements across the EOS C400, EOS C80 and EOS C50. Developed in response to customer feedback and evolving production needs, the updates deliver new broadcast and virtual production capabilities, enhanced filmmaking features and greater customisation, alongside Speedlite flash support for the EOS C50. These improvements reinforce Canon's commitment to continually enhancing its professional imaging range to meet the changing needs of filmmakers, broadcasters and hybrid creators.

 

Enhanced broadcast and virtual production workflows

The firmware update introduces Multi-Matrix Support across the EOS C400, EOS C80 and EOS C50, providing advanced control over image colour and saturation across selected colour axes. This enables greater precision when matching multiple cameras and working with LED volumes, helping cameras integrate more seamlessly into existing real-time colour workflows.

Further enhancements support demanding broadcast and virtual production environments, including improved CV metadata for focus and zoom encoder data, Black Level adjustment when shooting in Canon Log 2 or Canon Log 3, and Image Stabilisation support for lenses exceeding 1000mm. Audio output in Slow & Fast mode also enables greater flexibility for productions that move between high-speed sports footage and post-match interviews.

 

Expanded filmmaking capabilities

For professional filmmakers using the EOS C400 and EOS C80, the update extends autofocus support in Slow & Fast mode to additional frame rates between 60 and 120p, including 72p, 75p, 90p and 96p. This allows users to benefit from Canon's advanced autofocus tracking across a wider range of slow-motion shooting scenarios, supporting narrative, documentary, commercial and music video productions.

The update also improves on-screen display information, including Base ISO and fan indicators, helping users monitor key camera settings and operational information while shooting.

 

Speedlite flash support for the EOS C50

Expanding the versatility of the EOS C50, the firmware update introduces support for compatible Canon Speedlite flash accessories via the Multi-Function Accessory Shoe. This enhancement is particularly valuable for professional photographers and hybrid shooters, including wedding and event creators, who want to capture high-quality still images using flash alongside video footage from the same event.

Supported accessories include EL-series and EX-series Speedlites, Macro Lights and Speedlite Transmitters. [1]

 

Greater customisation and control

In response to customer requests, the update introduces additional customisation options for RF lens buttons, camera control dials and assignable buttons across the EOS C400, EOS C80 and EOS C50. Users can assign quick access to a wider range of functions, including autofocus, digital tele-converter, sensor mode and exposure settings.

These refinements enable professionals to tailor camera operation to their individual shooting styles and workflows, improving efficiency and providing more intuitive control on set.

By delivering new capabilities and refinements in response to professional user feedback, Canon continues to evolve its Cinema EOS range to support a broad range of production requirements, helping customers maximise the potential of their existing equipment and giving prospective users greater flexibility when choosing a camera system.

 

Availability

The new firmware updates for the EOS C400, EOS C80 and EOS C50 will be available to download free of charge from December 2026 via canon-europe.com/support.

 

[1] When using conventional five-pin Speedlites, the Multi-Function Shoe Adapter AD-E1 is required. The adapter maintains the camera's dust- and water-resistant performance.

One of the most recognized photographs in the history of National Geographic was made on a camera you can still buy used for a few hundred dollars. Steve McCurry pointed a Nikon FM2 with a 105mm lens at a girl of about 12 in a Pakistani refugee camp in 1984, loaded Kodachrome 64, and came away with "Afghan Girl." No autofocus, no built-in motor drive, no computer in the box. A manual mechanical camera and one prime lens.

[Read More]

I love small prime lenses and cameras for travel and street photography, so I was curious to test the new 40mm f/2.5 from 7Artisans. It's a tiny full frame lens for Nikon Z cameras, weighing a mere 97 g and measuring just 2 inches long. And at $159, it's also considerably cheaper than Nikon's 170 g NIKKOR Z 40mm f/2, which currently sells for around $277. Sony E and L-Mount versions are also available.

 

[Read More]

Buy a new photo printer, and the next temptation is a shopping cart full of baryta, cotton rag, and sampler packs of photo paper from every maker you've heard of. Paper shapes how a print looks, but telling which paper suits your images depends on a skill you can only build by printing a lot.

 

[Read More]

Nearly everything you learn about focus points in one direction: keep the subject sharp and let the background fall apart. Reversing that, so the person in front of the lens goes soft while the scene behind them stays crisp, is one of the simplest ways to make an image feel dreamy and a little unreal.

 

[Read More]

Every small camera between $500 and $1,500 gives something up, whether that's stabilization, battery life, a viewfinder, or a mechanical shutter, and the Sony ZV-E10, Fujifilm X-M5, Lumix S9, and Lumix L10 each make a different sacrifice. Picking the one whose weakness you rarely run into is what separates a camera you carry every day from one you regret buying.

 

[Read More]

Landscape photography can settle into a loop: scout a spot, wait for light, take the frame, go home, and do it again next weekend. That routine produces some beautiful single images, but a hard drive full of unrelated pictures rarely adds up to a body of work you can show someone.

 

[Read More]

We all aspire to get the correct colour rendition and it is very important, especially with shooting JPEGs, but sometimes it is really fun to shoot with the wrong preset and get weird colours. If you shoot Raw, you can do this afterwards on the computer. 

 

Gear Suggestions:

A camera where you can adjust the white balance makes life easier. This could be a DSLR or compact which has various white balance settings, including custom white balance if none of the presets give you the look you're after.

Once you've found the camera's white-balance control, take a look at your manual if you're unsure where the white balance options are, do try the various settings on offer as each one will give a slightly different look to your image. Most cameras have the following white balance settings: auto, cloudy, daylight, incandescent, fluorescent and flash.

 

Technique:

Much of this is you playing with the various presets – or in Photoshop afterwards.

One of the most obvious is shooting with the incandescent setting in daylight to give blue-coloured images. In film days, fashion pros used to use tungsten-balanced colour film in daylight. With digital, you can try this without risking anything and if the effect looks wrong, switch back to auto white-balance and try something else.

Most cameras have the option of using Kelvin. You could set a low value and shoot in normal daylight. The effect can be very pronounced and will enhance the mood of suitable scenes. There is no right or wrong when it comes to experimenting.

 

Photo by Peter Bargh, edited in Lightroom.

 

Play with RAW files on your PC

If you have Raw files, you can play with white balance without leaving the computer. Just put the file through the Raw converter again and try a different preset. It is simple to do and because it is Raw processing is non-destructive so you can always go back to the original colour images.

It is worth saying that if you play with white balance in-camera and are shooting JPEGs, the result is more or less what you are stuck with and there is only a limited amount that you can salvage afterwards.

The working dose Samuel Sheppard wrote into his patent was 2 to 3 grains of thiosinamine per 100 pounds of dry gelatin, which works out to roughly three or four parts per million. Added to a gelatin stripped of its natural sensitizer, that trace could raise the emulsion's sensitivity by a factor of ten or twenty. Nudge it upward and the film fogged.

 

[Read More]

Almost every camera strap on the market from a couple dozen brands right now makes use of links that make it a lot easier to connect the camera to the straps. This smart yet simple solution made straps a lot more efficient, and WANDRD's take on the quick-release camera strap has a few extra features that make it better.

 

[Read More]

Finding the perfect camera that will fit every job is the dream. But sometimes, it’s more effective to build a team than rely on the power of one. 

[Read More]

The MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display is the first Mac laptop with a tandem OLED panel, and after two days with the 16-inch M5 Max I keep coming back to the same thought: Apple did not just bolt a nicer screen onto last year's computer. This is a major step forward all around.  

The review unit is the 16-inch with the M5 Max, 18-core CPU, 40-core GPU, 128 GB of unified memory, and a 4 TB SSD, in Space Black.

[Read More]

You drive out to a waterfall the day after a downpour, expecting a torrent, and find the creek almost dry. A blown plan like that tests how quickly you can switch to a backup spot, and how much you can pull out of an ordinary forest scene later with focus stacking in Photoshop and some careful masking in Lightroom.

 

[Read More]

Today I’m going to examine the benefits of using a tilt-shift lens with the help of the brand-new Laowa 24mm f/2 Zero-D Tilt-Shift. 

First, an admission. I’m not an architectural photographer. In most of my work, faces take precedence, and buildings are essentially set dressing. But there is something magical about a well-made tilt-shift lens, so when given the opportunity to try one out, I wanted to have a look and see what it is that makes a tilt-shift lens useful in so many photographers' workflows.

[Read More]

Nikon's Z 120-300mm f/2.8 TC VR S is up for preorder at $13,996, and for that money, you get a constant f/2.8 zoom with a 1.4x teleconverter built into the barrel. If you shoot sports, wildlife, events, or anything else where you can't simply walk closer, one lens that covers the territory of several fast primes changes what you pack and how quickly you can respond to what's in front of you.

 

[Read More]

A standard prime is often the second lens people buy, and on Nikon Z, the inexpensive autofocus options have long trailed what Sony E shooters can pick from. SG-image, a brand mostly known for small pancake lenses, now offers a 55mm f/1.8 autofocus prime with a metal body and a look that suits retro-styled cameras.

 

[Read More]

Almost every Photoshop edit beyond a global adjustment starts with telling the software which pixels to touch. Get that step wrong, and every brightening pass, color shift, and composite you build on top of it shows its seams.

 

[Read More]

Photo walks are probably something you associate with summer, however with autumn shades decorating our countryside and lights getting switched on sooner in cities, you can capture just as interesting shots at this time of year.

Where you walk and how long for really depends on how long you have and what you want to capture but here are a few tips you'll find useful no matter where you walk.
 

Gear Choices  It can be tempting to take various lenses, however if you can pack a zoom that covers various focal lengths, you won't be as weighed down with gear. It makes your walk more of a challenge too, making you work closer to subjects and thinking slightly more out of the box. If you do spot something you really can't capture with your zoom you can always revisit the location on another night / day. A tripod or monopod will be useful, particularly when you're using longer shutter speeds at night or capturing the movement of autumn trees.

A sling-style bag is great for city shoots as they make accessing gear quick and easy. If you're planning an autumnal walk that'll last a few hours or even all day a rucksack would probably be better as you'll be able to pack other supplies and weight will be distributed evenly across your back.

 

Check The Weather

If a clear night is forecast you should plan an early start as frost will be decorating fields and leaves. Closer to home, look for cobwebs and if it's really cold, ice forming on ponds or puddles if it's rained the night before.

Misty sun rises work well as do snowy landscapes and shots of wet streets after the sun's set and lights are switching on.

Photo by Peter Bargh.

 

 

Dress For The Weather

By taking the time to check the weather forecast you'll have a good idea on what clothing you'll need for your walk. Sticking your head out of the door is also a good idea as weather forecasters aren't guaranteed to get it right every time! For cold days, wear lightweight layers rather than a couple of thick bulky items as you can always remove layers if you're too warm or add more if you need them. A good pair of boots or shoes that support your ankles, have a good sole and are ideally waterproof are also essential.

 

Have A Route

A quick, short route that circles back on itself will be fine. Taking a path through woods is good at this time of year and shouldn't be too strenuous. It's also the season when towns begin putting up and switching on Christmas lights so a quick route around your town's streets should also give you plenty of opportunities to capture some interesting night-themed shots.

 

What To Look For

In towns, get up high to stop problems with converging verticals, plus it'll give you the opportunity to capture some cityscapes. Don't be afraid of getting in close to capture some abstract shots of buildings and capture unique perspectives by changing your angle. 

 

Tell People Always tell someone where you're going, how long you'll be and give them an idea of the route you are going to take. This is particularly important at this time of year when cold and icy conditions can make routes harder to navigate. Even if you are only going for a walk around your town, it's still a good idea to let someone know where you'll be, especially when heading out after the sun sets. In fact, if possible, take someone with you on the walk.
  Be Aware Of What And Who Is Around You

Traffic in towns, crowds on busy shopping streets and ice at the side of rivers are just some of the dangers you need to keep an eye out for. It's easy to get carried away when you have your eye stuck to a viewfinder, and you can soon be falling over something because you took too many steps forward while you had your eye glued to the camera. This is another good reason for taking someone, especially if they are a non-photographer, with you as they'll be an extra pair of eyes looking out for hazards on your route.