Photography News

The Kodak Charmera Keychain Digital Camera is a tiny Kodak novelty that looks like a toy and sometimes behaves like one. It’s still the kind of device that can change how you shoot on a normal day, especially when you’re sick of chasing perfect files.

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There are many cameras that are now compatible with electronic viewfinders and they're an accessory that can become particularly useful when certain situations arise. With this in mind, here are three situations where an electronic viewfinder will come in helpful:

 

In Bright Light

When it's really bright, or the sun is shining straight onto the back of your camera, it can be really difficult to see anything on the screen, even if you up the brightness level. This is where the electronic viewfinder comes in, as you'll be able to see the scene perfectly clearly when you look through it, eliminating any glare getting in the way of composing your shot. 

 

 

Help Frame The Image

Sometimes, looking at the scene away from the camera slightly on the screen can result in a composure that's not so tidy. By using an electronic viewfinder, you can make sure everything you want is in the shot, and nothing you don't want creeps in thanks to the field of view they present. Sometimes, looking through the viewfinder and moving your camera around will allow you to discover new viewpoints that you wouldn't have thought of capturing before, too. 

 

Help To Stabilise Your Camera

Using the viewfinder can sometimes help you to stabilise the camera a bit more if using a tripod isn't an option. Holding the camera up to your eye while still holding the camera with two hands gives you three points of contact, helping to keep your image shake free. Plus, as mentioned earlier, this will help you to clearly compose your images too without getting distracted by what's around you.

 

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

ePHOTOzine is happy to announce the winners of the 2025 Christmas Prize Draw giveaway!

 

Congratulations to all the winners, and thank you again to our kind sponsors.

 

Here are the winners!

 

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Dennis Debono (Bigdenbo)

 

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Andrew Thompson (AndrewThompson)

 

Day 4: Wacom Intuos Pro Medium:

David Lees (Dlees78)

 

Day 5: SIGMA 17-40mm F1.8 DC Art:

Steve Whitfield (boxer57)

 

Day 6: 1 of 10 Zoner Studio yearly licenses:

1. Gary Macleod (Gary_Macleod)
2. Joe Fuller (5hutterlag)
3. Arnie Livingston (zwarder)
4. Helen Jones (Opals_mum)
5. Andrew William McDonald (awmcdonald)
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Day 9: £250 To Spend With MPB:

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Day 10: 1 of 3 Samsung EVO Plus 1TB Memory Cards:

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Day 15: 1 of 10 Outdoor Photographer Subscriptions:

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Not A Lucky Winner This Time?

Upload a photo to win our 'Photo of the Week' accolade that's up for grabs weekly! Each winner of the ‘Photo of the Week’ in 2026 wins a 128GB PRO Plus microSDXC memory card with SD adapter from Samsung. We also have our for-fun Daily Theme Challenge, so join in and upload your favourite themed photos.

There is a moment early in every photographer's journey when they realize that simply pointing a camera at something interesting does not automatically produce an interesting photograph. The gap between what we see with our eyes and what the camera captures can feel impossibly wide. We stand in front of a stunning landscape or a compelling portrait subject, press the shutter, and somehow the resulting image falls flat. The scene that moved us in person becomes mundane in the frame. While there are countless technical explanations for this phenomenon, one of the most overlooked culprits is deceptively simple: we are shooting from the wrong height.

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A fast portrait lens can make it dangerously easy to lean on blur and call it style. The video focuses on the small portrait habits that quietly flatten your results, even when focus and exposure look “right.”

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I wasn’t planning to shoot any macro photography that day because it is something I very rarely do. But I have such a huge respect for the macro masters I see and thought, "I would give it a proper go." After all, photography is very much about experimentation and creativity, so let's dive in, shall we?

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You can get “window light” even when there isn’t a usable window, and the difference between fake and believable usually comes down to a few small decisions. If you shoot portraits in a controlled space, this approach gives you a repeatable look without waiting on weather, time of day, or room layout.

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Your landscape can look incredible in person and still turn into a flat photo once you open it in Lightroom. The video breaks down why that mismatch happens and what to do about it when a scene feels “big” to your eyes but small on the screen.

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An f/1.4 lens can make portraits look calm and intentional, but it can also punish mistakes in focus, corners, and color fringing. If you are considering a manual-focus short telephoto, the real question is what you gain in look and feel and what you quietly give up.

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At this time of year, there is a high possibility that you might get caught out by rain showers when you're out exploring. If you do experience some rain, even if you're at home nice and dry when it begins, here are some ways that you can capture rain creatively. 

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1. Macro Raindrops

Shooting the raindrops as they gather on the window can make some really pretty abstract shots. Fit a macro lens to enable you to get really up close to your subject. Take into account the background of the image as although it will be blurred by the wide aperture you use, any obvious shapes could still take away from the image. Use some card to shield any glare and reflections that may appear. You could also have a go at refraction - where a smaller version of the world outside appears in the drop.
 

2. Raindrops on flowers and plants 

After the rain shower, head outside to shoot the raindrops on the flowers and plants in the garden or at your local park. Saturated, glistening leaves on plants will be really photogenic, producing vibrant images. Shoot abstract, macro images from different angles to emphasise the water drops. 

 

 

3. Reflections

Rainfall provides an excellent opportunity for you to photograph reflections where usually there wouldn't be an opportunity. Use reflection to photograph textures of building in small puddles or symmetry images in larger ones. Puddles near flowers will allow you to capture them from a different angle, looking upwards towards the sky. Longer shutter speeds will help to create a smoother-looking puddle if it's windy.

 

4. Splashes

Using a faster shutter speed will enable you to capture the splashes from puddles as cars and bikes ride through them, or people walk through them. This might be better captured through a zoom lens to avoid splashes landing on your equipment. It might also be an idea to use a continuous shutter mode, allowing you to take several shots at once and choose the best one. 
 

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

 

Skylum, the creator behind the award-winning AI photo editor Luminar Neo, has introduced a new feature called AI Assistant that makes photo editing fast, smarter and more intuitive. Released in December 2025 as part of the Luminar Neo update, photographers can now use the AI Assistant to type simple text commands and get tailored editing suggestions to enhance their photos and speed up their workflow.

 

Edit Smarter Through Text Commands

Available in both Presets and Edit tabs, the AI Assistant works by analysing your image’s composition, colours, and objects, then recommends edits that fit the image. Photographers can type requests or prompts such as “Enhance this photo” or “Turn this photo black and white” to instantly see up to three suggested edits, each with previews and short descriptions. 

Once a suggestion is applied, you can fine-tune the results in the Edit tab. This cuts down on guesswork and gives you a clear starting point. The best part? You're never limited. You can keep asking for fresh suggestions as many times as you like, experimenting until you find the look that feels just right.

 

Explore Tools With Guided Assistance

The AI Assistant is not only about quick fixes. For guidance-type queries, the AI Assistant highlights the most effective tools and provides direct access to them. This makes it easier to explore Luminar Neo’s features while you’re actively editing, helping you learn the software step by step without interrupting your workflow.

 

 

Enhance and Create With AI Suggestions

AI Assistant can suggest general enhancements, help boost colours, adjust white balance, and apply toning styles directly to your photo. It also provides guidance for edits like brightening, adjusting contrast, dehazing, or using tools for creative effects such as sky replacement, adding a sunset, perspective fixes and background replacement. These suggestions help you choose the right tools and approach for each image, whether you want subtle improvements or bold transformations.

 

Integrated With Luminar Neo’s Features

AI Assistant works seamlessly with Luminar Neo’s existing tools such as Relight AI, Sky Replacement and Portrait Background Removal. This integration means you can combine automated suggestions with advanced manual controls, creating a complete editing workflow inside one platform.

 

Try Luminar Neo and AI Assistant Today

Luminar Neo’s AI Assistant is available now for all users with version 1.26.0 or later. Download the software to streamline your workflow and enjoy faster, smarter editing.

Special Offer: Use code EPHOTOZINE at checkout for 10% off and explore the entire range of Luminar Neo features today.

Get Luminar Neo Now

 

Wide-angle lenses usually fall into one of two categories: large, heavy, expensive monsters or budget-friendly options that often come with compromises not worth the cost. But has Viltrox hit a home run?

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There was a time, not so long ago, when medium format digital photography existed in an entirely separate universe from the rest of the camera market. It was a universe populated by wealthy commercial photographers and the occasional landscape obsessive who had saved for years to afford a system that promised marginally better image quality than what everyone else was using. Not anymore.

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London Camera Exchange has announced that entries for its Photographer of the Year 2026 competition will close on 21 January 2026. Now in its third year, the contest offers a £10,000 prize fund across 14 categories, including the popular Emerging Talent section, and welcomes submissions from photographers of all levels.

All entries will appear in the official online gallery, with the public able to vote in the People’s Choice category, while other sections are judged by a panel of industry experts. Shortlisted work will be showcased at The Photography & Video Show at the NEC in Birmingham this March, where winners will receive trophies and prizes including £2,500 in LCE vouchers for the overall champion.

 

From London Camera Exchange

The deadline for the 2026 LCE Photographer of the Year competition is fast approaching. Now in its third year, the national photography contest will close at midnight on 21 January. Photographers of all levels of experience are welcome to submit their work, with 14 varied categories to choose from, and a substantial total prize fund of £10,000.

Every entry will be featured in the LCE POTY 2026 online gallery, and will be open to public voting in the ‘People’s Choice’ category. All other categories are judged by an expert panel.

Last year’s ‘Emerging Talent’ student category was won by Martina Aguirre Torres, with her stunning image entitled ‘Abigail’ (above), shot during British indie rock band The Last Dinner Party’s 2024 tour. Two £500 prizes are granted in this category – one to the photography student and one to their photography course – providing resources to support the growth of up-and-coming photographers in the future.

Judges for the 2026 contest include SheClicks founder and journalist Angela Nicholson, Chris George, content director at Future Publishing, professional portrait and travel documentary photographer Jimmy Cheng, and Lee Harasyn, managing director of LCE. Some helpful advice from the judging panel for potential entrants to this year’s competition can be found below:

 

 

Angela Nicholson commented, “As a judge, I’m drawn to images that reflect the photographer’s interpretation of a scene and their connection with the subject. I’m looking for a creative vision, thoughtful use of light, technique and composition, and photographs that feel personal, expressive and intentional.”

 

 

Jimmy Cheng remarked, “Aside from technical brilliance, I will be looking for images that express emotions and creative presentation.”

 

 

Chris George added, "It was winning a photo competition that spurred my interest in photography and then taking it up as a career, so I love the chance to judge contests myself. I am always on the lookout for a shot I haven't seen before – or an image taken way better than similar ones I have seen in the past.”

 

 

Lee Harasyn said, “I’m naturally drawn to great technique, but sometimes a photographer can capture an image so powerful that this becomes irrelevant. The best photos connect with the viewer – and that’s what I’m hoping to find.”

Winners will receive a share of the £10,000 prize pot and an impressive trophy, presented at The Photography & Video Show at the NEC in Birmingham (March 2026). The overall winner will be awarded £2,500 in LCE vouchers to spend on products of their choice. All shortlisted images will be displayed in a prominent exhibition space at the NEC and included in a special edition commemorative book.

LCE POTY 2026 is supported by leading photo industry brands including headline sponsors Canon, Fujifilm and OM System, as well as partners Lexar, Nikon and Sony, and affiliates Cewe and Sigma.

The competition is open to photographers aged 18 and over. Entries will be accepted from photographers worldwide, however, prizes will only be awarded to UK residents. 

 

LCE Photographer of the Year 2026 categories:

• Action
• After Dark
• Birds
• Creative
• Emerging Talent
• Events
• Landscape
• Macro
• People’s Choice
• Pets
• Portrait
• Street
• Travel
• Wildlife

 

Entries can be submitted online or in person at any of the 26 London Camera Exchange stores.

For full details, including terms, conditions, rules and FAQs, please visit the competition website.

 

 

85mm portrait primes get marketed as “special,” but the real story is how fast they focus, how they handle, and what you trade to save size and money. If you shoot people on Sony E-mount, this head-to-head is the kind of comparison that can keep you from buying the right focal length in the wrong package.

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Therese Asplund winning image.

 

The Society of Photographers is thrilled to reveal the winners of the prestigious 2025 Photographer of the Year awards, proudly sponsored by Loxley Colour.

Therese Asplund has been crowned Photographer of the Year, an accolade that celebrates outstanding photographic talent and creativity.

The 2025 Monthly Image Competition attracted an impressive 5,725 submissions across 28 categories, showcasing the remarkable diversity and skill of our talented membership. Gold Award-winning images from each category were shortlisted, with the best of the best selected for this year’s top honours.

 

Judges’ Comments

“Demonstrating outstanding skill, narrative depth, and execution, this bold and distinctive image emerged as a clear standout and generated animated discussion among the judges.”

 

For full details on The Society of Photographers - Photographer of the Year Awards please check out the website: https://thesocieties.net/the-society-of-photographers-photographer-of-the-year-2025/

 

2nd Place Photographer of the Year 2025 was awarded to Cecile Stuedal Norway from Finnmark, Norway.

 

3rd Place Photographer of the Year 2025 was awarded to Terry Donnelly from England, UK.

 

Colin Jones, The Society of Photographers’ CEO and Terrie Jones The Society of Photographers’ Personal Development Manager presenting Therese the Photographer of the Year Award.

 

For more information, please visit the The Society of Photographers' website.

 

People and cultures category winner and overall winner: ‘Kartika Vrata’ by Tanveer Rohan

 

The winners of the 2025/2026 Penda Travel Photography Competition have been announced, showcasing exceptional images from photographers around the world. The winning entries feature colorful cultural portraits, dramatic wildlife encounters, and breathtaking landscapes that capture the beauty and diversity of our planet. Judges selected images that tell compelling visual stories, with the overall winner earning a place on a Botswana Photo Safari. This year's competition highlights the power of travel photography to inspire wanderlust and forge connections between people, places, and nature.

 

From Penda Photo Tours

London, UK & Cape Town, South Africa — The winners of the 2025/2026 Penda Travel Photography Competition have been announced — showcasing breathtaking imagery that captures the heart of travel, culture, wildlife and landscapes from around the world. The annual competition attracted entries from talented photographers across the globe, with judges selecting standout images that tell powerful visual stories of place, people and nature.

 

Top Honours and Standout Winners

 

Overall & People & Cultures Category Winner
‘Kartika Vrata’ by Tanveer Rohan — A dynamic and richly composed image that immerses viewers in vibrant colours and cultural expression. Tanveer’s work also secured the overall competition title, earning a coveted place on the Botswana Photo Safari.

 

2nd Place — People & Cultures
‘Circles of Life’ by Pranab Basak — Celebrated for its compelling narrative and visual harmony.

 

Wildlife category winner: ‘Lioness Eyes Behind Birds’ by Willem Kruger

 

Wildlife Category Winner
‘Lioness Eyes Behind Birds’ by Willem Kruger — A layered and evocative capture combining wildlife behavior with artistic depth.

 

2nd Place — Wildlife
‘Life Hangs by a Thread’ by Xiaoping Lin — Recognised for its remarkable moment and technical skill.

 

Landscape Category Winner
‘Money Tree’ by Xu Zhang — Praised for its unique viewpoint and visual balance.

 

Landscape category second place: ‘Bozzhira’ by Galip Cetiner

 

2nd Place — Landscape
‘Bozzhira’ by Galip Cetiner — Awarded for its dramatic light and colour composition.

 

Celebrating Visual Storytelling that Transcends Borders

The judging panel, comprising leading professional photographers and visual storytellers, chose winners based on creative strength, technical excellence, and the ability of each image to communicate a unique travel story. These powerful photographs reflect both diverse cultures and spectacular natural environments, reinforcing the role of photography in inspiring exploration and connection to places beyond our own.

The overall competition winner now joins a select group of photographers for an exclusive Botswana Photo Safari, an immersive experience in one of Africa’s most remarkable wildlife landscapes.

 

About the Penda Travel Photography Competition

The Penda Travel Photography Competition celebrates visual storytelling from around the world and welcomes entries from photographers of all backgrounds. Through multiple categories:  People & Cultures, Wildlife and Landscape, Penda supports creative expression and invites photographers to share their vision of the world’s beauty and diversity.

For more information and to view the winning images, visit: https://www.pendaphototours.com/blog/meet-the-winners-of-our-travel-photography-competition/

 

About Penda Photo Tours

Penda Photo Tours creates photography-focused travel experiences designed by photographers for photographers. Their trips are built around photography excellence, guiding participants to the right place at the right time with small, expert-led groups and professional photographic instruction. From wildlife safaris to cultural explorations and landscape workshops, Penda trips blend travel expertise with artistic growth, all grounded in ethical and respectful engagement with people, wildlife and environments. Penda Photo Tours is part of the Impact Travel Group.

The PolarPro Center Split Filter is the latest in-camera optical tool designed for photographers and filmmakers who want to push their visuals beyond the ordinary. Rather than relying on digital effects during post-production, this filter creates a dreamy aesthetic during capture.

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You can lose a morning at the coast even when the light looks promising, and the reasons are not always what you think. This video focuses on one pier shoot where timing, tide, and filters collide in ways that will feel uncomfortably familiar.

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