Photography News

 

London Camera Exchange (LCE) has opened entries for its Photographer of the Year 2027 competition, inviting photographers of all skill levels to compete for a share of a £10,000 prize fund across 14 categories. Free to enter, the competition offers opportunities for photographers to gain national recognition, with winning and shortlisted images showcased at The Photography & Video Show 2027 at ExCeL London. Entries are open until midnight on 20 January 2027.

 

From London Camera Exchange:

 

• London Camera Exchange annual photography competition returns with £10,000 prize fund – now open for submissions
• Quick, easy and free to enter for photographers of all levels and experience
• 14 diverse categories from Landscape and Street to Wildlife, Portrait and Travel, plus publicly voted ‘People’s Choice’ and ‘Emerging Talent’ for photography students
• Exhibition and awards presentation at The Photography & Video Show at ExCeL London, with winning and shortlisted works featured in a special commemorative book

 

London Camera Exchange is calling for entries to its LCE Photographer of the Year 2027 contest, inviting photographers to showcase their creativity and compete for a share of a £10,000 prize fund and gain national recognition for their work.

Now established as a major platform for photographic talent – and celebrating creativity, skill and inspiration – LCE Photographer of the Year is free to enter and open to photographers of all experience levels, aged 18 and over. Images can be taken anywhere in the world.

Entries open on 12 October 2026 and close at midnight on 20 January 2027. Photographers can submit a maximum of one image per category, with 14 categories offering opportunities to depict everything from dramatic action and landscapes to wildlife, portraits, creative scenes and everyday events. Participants can submit their images in-store at any of LCE’s 26 retail shops around the UK, or online at https://poty.lcegroup.co.uk/.

Lee Harasyn, managing director of LCE, commented, “London Camera Exchange is celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2026, so we are aiming for this year’s competition to be our biggest and best yet. LCE Photographer of the Year has developed into an exciting platform for photographers to showcase their talent and compete for major prizes. With a £10,000 prize fund, 14 categories and an exceptional panel of judges, there are more opportunities than ever for photographers to achieve recognition for their shots.”

Following the success of the Emerging Talent category in previous years, photography students studying in the UK are again eligible in this dedicated section, with the winner receiving £500 worth of LCE vouchers and an additional £500 awarded to their photography department, university or other place of study.

The popular ‘People’s Choice’ category will also return, giving photographers the chance to put their images directly in front of the public and encourage friends, family and fellow photography enthusiasts to vote for their work. The image receiving the most eligible votes will become the People’s Choice winner.

The competition offers a substantial prize for every category winner, with each of the 14 category champions receiving £500 worth of LCE vouchers and a trophy. The overall LCE Photographer of the Year will be presented with an additional £2,500 worth of LCE vouchers, while the Emerging Talent winner’s place of study will receive a further £500.

 

2026 overall winning image, ‘Fish Eyes’ by Sophia Spurgin

 

Finalists will be invited to the LCE Photographer of the Year awards ceremony at The Photography & Video Show 2027, taking place at ExCeL London from 13 to 16 March 2027. All the finalists’ images will be displayed at a high-profile exhibition in the show entrance.

A selection of shortlisted entries will also be included in a stunning LCE Photographer of the Year special edition commemorative book, with a complimentary copy provided to featured entrants. The winning images will be announced at the awards ceremony, and via London Camera Exchange’s social channels and national and specialist media, delivering further opportunities for photographers to share their work with new audiences.

The 2027 competition will be judged by four distinguished photography experts: Angela Nicholson, founder of SheClicks, Chris George, content director of Digital Camera World and Creative Bloq, award-winning professional portrait and travel documentary photographer Jimmy Cheng and internationally acclaimed street photographer Peter Dench.

Lee Harasyn continued, "We want LCE Photographer of the Year to celebrate photography in all its forms. From emerging photographers developing their style to experienced professionals, we’re looking forward to seeing the creativity, originality and different perspectives that photographers bring to this year’s competition.

"Being able to honour the winners at The Photography & Video Show at ExCeL London makes the 2027 competition particularly exciting. We can’t wait to discover the images that will make this year’s shortlist and share them with photography audiences across the UK and beyond."

Images can be captured using any device capable of producing a digital image of sufficient quality and resolution for entry, including cameras, drones, smartphones, tablets and other digital imaging devices. Images must be the entrant’s own work and AI-generated imagery is not permitted. The judges will assess shortlisted images based on composition, lighting, subject matter and technical skill, with photographs judged anonymously. The overall winner will be selected by the judging panel from the 14 category winners.

 

Categories:

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

 

The competition is generously backed by major photo industry brands including headline sponsors Canon, Fujifilm and OM System, as well as partners Nikon and Sony, and affiliates Cewe, Lexar and Sigma.

LCE Photographer of the Year 2027 is open to photographers worldwide, although prizes are limited to photographers who are resident in the UK. No purchase is necessary to enter or win. LCE Photographer of the Year is free to enter and attend.

 

LCE Photographer of the Year 2027 key dates

• Entries open: 12 October 2026
• Entries close: Midnight, 20 January 2027
• The Photography & Video Show 2027: 13 to 16 March 2027, ExCeL London
• Awards ceremony: Timings to be confirmed and communicated to shortlisted entrants.

 

For more information and please visit the LCE Photographer of the Year website.

Fujifilm, a company that spent most of a century making film, looked at the tidy checkerboard of color filters printed onto every digital sensor and decided the tidiness was the enemy. Its answer was a scrambled 6 by 6 grid of red, green, and blue inspired by the random clumping of film grain, and once that grid was in place the company deleted the one component almost every rival still trusted to keep pictures clean. The X-Trans sensor has been dividing photographers ever since.

 

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The TTArtisan AF 24mm f/3.8 is a $99 autofocus pancake that covers a full frame sensor and weighs under 60 g. If you've ever left your camera at home because it felt like too much to carry, a lens this thin shifts that math in a real way.

 

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Tamron has announced the 16-50mm f/2.8 A, a constant f/2.8 standard zoom for APS-C mirrorless cameras that starts at 16mm and goes on sale October 29 for Sony E at $529 and Canon RF at $549, with Nikon Z and Fujifilm X versions following later in the year.

 

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After summer ends and the chips, candy floss and plastic buckets have long left the seafront, the British seaside resort morphs into a place that's desolated and full of photographic potential. 

 

1. Gear Suggestions

A zoom lens will give you the flexibility of both wide and telephoto options in one lens which is good news for the photographer who doesn't want to be carrying too much kit on their seaside walk. Plus, you don't really want to be changing lenses when there's a strong breeze blowing sand and salt which could damage your equipment. A tripod will help you steady your camera while the strong coastal breeze blows around you.

  2. Be Prepared

A bonus with this time of year is that parking's a doddle and accommodation should be cheaper if you're planning a full weekend of photography. 

Don't forget to check the all-important weather forecast and make sure you note down what time the tide will be on its way back in. If you don't,  you could find yourself paddling through saltwater with your camera gear if you do head for the beach. 

 

3. Light And Feel

Low-angled light will give colourful beach huts more punch while a bright blue sky dotted with white clouds will add a bit of life to what can be drab looking shops and piers. 

If you find that Mother Nature has realised you're at the coast and as a result predictably turns the sky grey don't be too down-hearted as a storm brewing over the sea will always look good. To give the sky more detail fit an ND filter to your lens but if it's still too dull and flat, shoot the scene anyway and try converting it to mono when you're back in front of your computer. If all else fails, there's always the option to shoot some macro detail of nets, ropes and wet pebbles on the beach. Just remember to fill the frame to give your shots more impact. 

 

  4. Photograph People

The ice-cream seller may be long gone but you will get the odd resident, brave surfer and fishermen still walking around the empty seaside towns. Even though it's always polite to ask before you take your shot, sometimes candids, where you snap a couple of shots without them knowing you're doing so, do work better. Many people won't mind you taking their photograph if you ask politely enough though so don't be afraid to approach someone with your camera and a pleasant smile. Try getting in close if they have a strong face that will make a good character portrait then stand back to give the shot more context. This can work well with a lonely surfer stood on a damp, deserted beach or with a café owner clearing tables in an empty shop. 

5. Life's A Beach

The pier is a photographic opportunity not to be missed at this time of year as you won't have tourists walking into your shot and morning fog can be found circling the supports, making them an eerie photographic opportunity. Go wide, shooting from the beach if possible or shoot from the top, using the pier as a leading line into your image.

 

Godox has introduced the A2, a compact xenon flash designed to give smartphone photographers greater control over lighting. It combines a dedicated flash, bi-color LED, magnetic accessories, and Bluetooth wireless control through the Godox Camera app.

 

Xenon Flash and Exposure Control

The A2 delivers a guide number of approximately 15 (GN15, ISO 100, meters) and supports TTL automatic and manual flash modes. High-speed sync reaches up to 1/8000 second, allowing users to balance flash with ambient light in bright conditions.

Godox specifies approximately 400 full-power flashes per charge, with a recycle time of around two seconds at full power. For best results, the company recommends keeping the flash within 2 meters of the subject.

 

 

Bi-Color LED and App Control

The bi-color LED provides continuous lighting for video and photography, with color temperatures adjustable from 2800K to 6000K through the app and brightness from 1% to 100%. Godox lists CRI and TLCI ratings of 96 or higher.

The Godox Camera app offers Natural, Even, and Contrast flash effects in Auto mode, along with manual adjustments. Bluetooth supports wireless control up to 15 meters, while NFC-assisted setup simplifies pairing.

 

 

Magnetic Mounting and Accessories

The A2 features a dual-sided magnetic design for flexible mounting. Optional accessories include a honeycomb grid, barndoors, a snoot, and a full CTO filter for warming the light. Godox recommends using the flash off-camera when working with light-shaping accessories.

A separate smartphone wireless flash trigger for compatible Godox speedlights and outdoor flashes is listed as upcoming and will be sold separately.

 

 

Godox A2 Specifications

• Product type: Smartphone xenon flash
• Guide number: Approx. GN15 at ISO 100, meters
• Flash modes: TTL and manual
• Flash output: 1/128 to full power, in 1/3-stop increments
• High-speed sync: Up to 1/8000 second
• Full-power flashes: Approx. 400
• Recycle time: Approx. 2 seconds at full power
• LED color temperature: 2800K to 6000K
• LED brightness: 1% to 100%
• CRI/TLCI: 96 or higher
• LED power: Approx. 3W continuous, 18W burst
• Wireless range: Up to 15 meters
• Battery: 7.7V, 500mAh
• Charging: USB-C, 5V/2A; approx. one hour
• Dimensions: 63.8 mm diameter × 25.8 mm
• Weight: Approx. 93g
• Colors: Four options

 

For more information, please visit the official Godox A2 product page.

Walk into a department store in Tokyo and you can buy an anti-aging skin cream made by a camera company. It is called Astalift, and the collagen and antioxidant science inside the bottle came straight out of the labs that once kept your photographic prints from yellowing. That cream is one of the reasons Fujifilm is still here and Kodak, the company that arguably invented the whole modern imaging world, spent 2012 in bankruptcy court.

 

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Today is the last day you can get access to some of the best educational content in photography this year. Yes, it comes with a price tag but the value is pretty insane. 

 

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Woodland photography is something I have always found difficult. I am primarily a seascape photographer, and while I photograph other types of landscapes, the coast is where I feel most comfortable. When I arrive at a coastal location, I can usually start looking for the elements that might make up the photograph. A rock, a headland, a section of coastline, a wave, or perhaps the way the light is falling across the scene. There is normally something that immediately starts to draw my attention.

Woodland is different. 

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The self-timer feature is something which is available on most camera models and it's a shutter delay that when activated, stops the shutter from firing and taking the picture when the shutter button or release is pressed for a designated amount of time. This delay is useful for a number of reasons which are listed below. 

 

1. Close-Up Work

The other advantage of having a timer is to save you having to use a cable release when the camera is mounted on a tripod or resting on a secure base. You set the timer and the delay means there's no hand contact that could potentially cause camera shake when the shutter is pressed. The 10-second delay is not really necessary for this, so that's where the shorter delays come in handy.

 

 

2. Self Portraits And Group Shots

The idea is you can take self-portraits without having to be seen stretched out as you fire the camera at arms' length. All you do is activate the timer, press the shutter release and move in front of the camera, strike a pose - all within the timer's limit - and then you'll be the focus of your photo.

It can also be used to ensure you're in a family or group shot. You can arrange a small or larger group of people and allow space for yourself, activate the timer and move into the shot. This saves you having to give the camera to the waiter or tourist to take the photo, preventing an embarrassment or even potential theft!

 

3. Low Light Photography 

As with close-up work, your camera's self-timer can be used to reduce the chances of camera shake spoiling your shots when working in low light. At this time of year, your self-timer will be useful in dark woodland where you may be photographing close-ups of fungi. Again, you won't need a really long delay, a couple of seconds will be fine. 

 

 

4. Check Your Focus

There are a few things to do to help improve your photos when using the self-timer. The first is ensuring accurate focus. If you're doing a self-portrait you won't be in the photo when you press the shutter and as a result, the picture could end up blurry as the camera could lock focus on the background. One way around this is to point the camera at something that is at the same distance that you will be when the photo is taken. Press the shutter release and recompose before running in front of the camera. In a group shot this is easy - make sure you either focus on a person to the side if you're going to be in the centre or focus on the centre person and join the group at the edge.

 

5. Check The Edges Of The Frame

The other thing to avoid is a table edge being in the frame when you are taking a group shot in a restaurant or bar and decide to use a nearby table as support. The camera, when set to wide-angle, may pick up an edge of the support. Move the camera so it's right at the edge of the table, making sure it's balanced well and cannot fall off!

Another problem you may be faced with when resting the camera on a flat surface is that the height may not be right when you look through the viewfinder and often the heads or feet of your group will be cut off. If this happens, try and angle the camera so all of your group is in the shot.

You have felt it a hundred times. A friend snaps a candid, hands you the phone, and the person on the screen is a stranger who happens to be wearing your clothes. The nose is wrong. The smile is crooked. You look tired, or lopsided, or somehow older than the face you saw in the bathroom mirror twenty minutes ago. Everyone else in the frame looks fine. Only you look off. 

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