Photography News

  What Is It?

Looking at the Histogram on your camera can help you improve the overall exposure of your images and it’s a tool that’s available on most models. It’s a graph that represents the range of tones that are in the image you’ve taken so you can analyse the shot to make sure the exposure is correct before you move on to take a photo of something else. The left side of the graph shows the darker tones and the right the lightest.

You can set your camera to show a histogram at the same time you preview your shots, see your camera’s manual for more information on how to do this.

  Why Should I Use It?

Even though the histogram looks at the tonal range of your shot, it’s a quick way for you to see if your shot is really over or underexposed. If your shot’s underexposed it will look too dark while an overexposed will look a lot brighter than it needs to be and really light areas can look blown out as they lack detail.

  What Does It Mean?

If the graph is occupying mostly the left-hand side it means your image has more dark tones than light (underexposed) and if it’s shifted to the right, there are more lighter tones (overexposed) which means you could have really bright areas that look blown out.

A 'good' histogram that shows an even exposure will peak more towards the middle and get lower to either end.

Also, as a side note, when you playback your images there’s an option you can set that makes the highlighted areas ‘blink’ so you can pinpoint their exact location. Check your camera’s manual for the instructions on how to do this.

 

  When To Use It?

How often you check your histogram is up to you but generally, cameras are quite good at setting the exposure for most scenes. However, there are a few scenarios that can confuse your camera and these are the times it’s worth checking the histogram. For example, if you have a scene that varies drastically in tones so you have really bright areas as well as dark shadows.

The same goes for times when you’re using the same settings for a series of shots that you want the exposure to be the same for each. This could be taking a series of portraits that you’re going to combine into a multi-portrait that shows one person in several different locations in your shot. If the exposure isn’t the same in all the shots they won’t blend together seamlessly and it either won’t work or it’ll mean you have more post-production work to do.

There are times when the readings on the histogram would be right, your shot isn’t correctly exposed, however you may have done this on purpose so it can be ignored. When is this true? Well shooting a silhouette would give you a histogram that isn’t considered ‘correct’ likewise for a shot where the ground and sky are of a similar tonal range such as one a beach or when it snows.

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

 

Leading bag manufacturer Billingham launched a brand-new leisure range marking a deliberate shift from its traditional photographic bag collections.

The new range introduces three non-photographic bag designs, created with everyday versatility in mind while retaining the brand’s signature build quality and attention to detail. The collection is designed to appeal to customers looking for practical, stylish bags suitable for daily use, travel, and leisure.

The range comprises of two handbags and one tote bag, whose names have been inspired by the unsung heroes of the film set.

The three new styles are:

• Dolly Grip – Refined, functional and beautiful. This small handbag is designed for effortless everyday style.
• Key Grip – A perfectly balanced medium-sized handbag designed for everyday use.
• Best Boy Tote – A spacious statement-making tote, perfect for work, travel or everyday use.

Both the Dolly Grip and Key Grip will be available in four colour combinations:

• Khaki Canvas/Chocolate Leather
• Sage FibreNyte/Black Leather
• Black FibreNyte/Black Leather
• Burgundy Canvas/Black Leather

The Best Boy Tote will be offered in two colourways:

• Sage FibreNyte/Black Leather
• Black FibreNyte/Black Leather

Across all three designs, the range shares a consistent set of practical features, including a removable shoulder sling, multiple handy zip pockets, and an internal brass key loop, making each bag both functional and adaptable to different lifestyles.

The launch represents a notable evolution for the manufacturer, expanding its product offering beyond photographic use and into a broader leisure market, while continuing to design and manufacture from its factory in the West Midlands.

The new leisure range is now available online at www.billingham.co.uk and through a few selected retailers, with UK SRP (including VAT) as follows: Dolly Grip at £289.00, Key Grip at £359.00, and Best Boy Tote at £426.00.

If you’re shooting fast-moving sports or wildlife, or you’re a videographer shooting long takes in a raw format and high resolution, the most essential piece of gear you need is a fast reliable memory card. Choosing one, however, can be a nightmare. So what do you do? I would guess you buy one from a reputable brand, right? That makes sense, but recently I discovered there’s a lot of marketing smoke-and-mirrors going on—and I thought you should know about it.

[Read More]

When outlets can fill galleries with “credit-only” submissions, quality drops, prices crater, and working shooters quietly burn out. I’ve been part of the problem. Here’s why I’m done working for free—and how I’m building paid alternatives that serious shooters can copy without burning bridges. 

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For the past few weeks, I have been testing the Antigravity A1, the first drone I have ever used with a built in 360 degree camera. I expected a gimmick. What I got was something  genuinely innovative surprisingly fun. 

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I know nothing about laser cutter/engravers, and when I offered one to review, I was excited to try. Would I be smart enough to learn how to use it? Would I be creative enough to find a use for it?  

First Mistake: Smoke Everywhere

Like an idiot, I assumed I could set the Falcon A1 Pro on my office desk, plug it in, and start engraving. Within minutes, my office was filling with smoke.

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These days, it’s becoming easier and more affordable to photograph our night sky. The introduction of smart telescopes has opened the door for keen amateurs and hobbyists to get started in astrophotography at a fraction of the cost of a high-end professional setup. The ZWO Seestar S30 Pro is making the growing smart telescope space even better. 

[Read More]

The photographs that survive from the nineteenth century carry a strange weight. Daguerreotypes of solemn faces, wet plate portraits of Civil War soldiers, albumen prints of Victorian families posed in their Sunday best. What we rarely consider when looking at these images is what their creation cost the people who made them. The early history of photography reads less like the story of an art form and more like a catalog of occupational disasters.  

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How does a professional photographer transform a flat, raw file into a breathtaking wildlife masterpiece without falling into the trap of over-processing? Let us explore the structured mindset that transforms chaotic editing into a deliberate, artistic workflow. 

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Adobe has introduced a powerful update to Photoshop 2026. The Generative Fill feature now supports reference images, allowing users to use a specific visual source to guide AI-generated edits. This allows photographers and retouchers to swap out or add objects, such as jewelry and accessories, to create new iterations of their images without reshooting. It can significantly reduce time spent on complex compositing and detailed Photoshop work that would have previously required manual editing. And this is only the beginning of what this new feature makes possible. 

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Missing the decisive moment by seconds gets old fast. You start to wonder if the difference between an average frame and a standout image is just luck. 

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Photo by cattyal

 

The most popular approach to flower photography is to include the whole flower but by getting in very close or by choosing a less conventional crop you can create a rather exciting image. Plus, it's a technique you can try all year round as you can just buy your flowers from the supermarket when there's none showing their heads in your garden.

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1. Work Near A Window 

A greenhouse is a great location for shooting close-ups of flowers as there's plenty of light, you're sheltered from the wind and if the windows are slightly dirty the light will be nicely diffused. If you don't have a greenhouse work indoors next to a set of patio doors or a large window and use a net curtain or muslin to diffuse the light.

 

2. Direction, Apertures & Focus 

Position your vase/flower pot so you can work directly above it then begin experimenting with different apertures and shooting distances to change the overall effect. Start with a nice wide aperture to minimise your depth of field and switch to manual focusing as you can get in closer than your camera thinks. Although, it’s not even really necessary to have any part of the image in focus as the flower colour and shape can produce attractive abstract swirls of soft colour.

If you don’t have the ability to get in close then try some creative cropping. The sweep of a single Lily petal or the shape of an Iris lend themselves to close crops.

  3. Multiple Exposures  If your camera has it, try experimenting with the Multiple Exposure Mode. This mode allows you to take several shots on the same 'frame' which the camera then combines to create one shot. Having the lens sharply focused then defocusing as you move from exposure to exposure will give you a soft, dreamy look to your photograph.

 

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

You keep hearing that a 50mm f/1.8 on full frame gives a look that smaller sensors cannot match. That might be true, but it misses the point when your goal is depth, not blur. 

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A breathtaking black and white landscape shrouded in fog and mist has been awarded our Photo of the Week accolade.

Captured by mlseawell at Arches National Park in southern Utah, this atmospheric image titled "A Hidden Land" is the result of an early morning well spent. Rolling hills and distant mountain ridges peek through thick layers of mist, with the fog sitting heavy across the valley and giving just enough away to keep you looking. The further you look, the more the landscape seems to hold back, and that tension is what makes this image so compelling.

Shot in black and white, the image strips the scene back to its raw essentials, letting tone, texture and light do all the talking. It is the kind of photograph that reminds you why some early mornings are worth every effort.

Every Photo of the Week (POTW) winner will be rewarded with a Samsung 128GB PRO Plus microSDXC memory card with SD adapter, providing top-tier storage for all your creative needs across multiple devices. But that's not all! In January 2027, we’ll crown our 2026 Photo of the Year winner, who will take home the ultimate prize of a Samsung Portable 1TB SSD T7 Shield, courtesy of Samsung. It’s time to shoot, submit, and showcase your best work for a chance to win these incredible rewards!

The Canon R8 is not new, and the Canon RF 45mm f/1.2 arrived with mixed reactions. Yet this pairing keeps showing up as a favorite for travel and portraits when size and weight actually matter. 

[Read More]

Metallic paper can turn a flat-looking deep-sky file into something with depth and bite. If you care about how your astronomical images look on paper instead of just on a screen, the choices you make before hitting print decide whether the stars glow or fall dull. 

[Read More]

 

When the sun's not coming out to play you have two choices: you can go home and twiddle your thumbs or you can stay out and make the most of what's on offer. If you choose the latter, here are a few photography projects you could have a go at.

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1. Beach / Coast

The coast has a completely different feel when not drenched in sunshine. The sea can merge with the horizon making it seem like it stretches on for miles and the dark shades and moody feel really suit a seaside resort that's out of season. Even more so if you have boarded up beach huts and empty amusement parks to sit against a dark, moody sky.
 

2. Buildings

Dull days give factories and old buildings more character as there are generally fewer shadows, you'll be able to pick detail out in chimneys that reach out into the sky and the gloomy day will further enhance the feel of the industry and in the case of a boarded-up building, abandonment.

   
3. Close-Ups

Bright days when the sun is high in the sky can be awkward as colours will be too harsh and you'll have deep, dark shadows. Whereas grey days, when there's plenty of clouds, is nature's way of giving you a giant softbox to work with. This weather's particularly good for photographing flowers and shrubs so get outside with a macro lens compact camera which features a Macro mode. You'll have to use a slightly slower shutter speed, though, so make sure you pack your tripod.
 

4. Reflections

Flat light can leave buildings looking a little boring but if you turn your eyes to water, their reflections in the ripples can produce a great abstract shot. The reflection on its own can make interesting, slightly surreal images and all you need to do is make sure there are some interesting shapes reflected in the water.
 

5. Go Mono

A shot that looks dull and boring in colour can be transformed into a great moody mono with a little help from Photoshop. Just make sure you have some strong shapes for your black and white conversion. Go a little further and add a bit of grain and a ragged border and your mono will be moodier than a teenager!

 

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

Fujifilm occupies a unique position in the camera market. While Canon, Nikon, and Sony battle for full frame dominance, Fujifilm has charted its own course: a mature APS-C system beloved by enthusiasts and professionals alike, plus a medium format lineup that brings large sensor photography to a broader audience than ever before. For photographers entering Fujifilm's world in 2026, the lens ecosystem can seem deceptively simple at first glance, but there's more nuance hiding beneath the surface than you might expect.

[Read More]

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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 Archie2022 (Day 20 - Waterfall Photography).

 

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 15

Self Portraits

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Day 16

Vertical Lines

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Day 17

Photos With Vignettes

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  Day 18

People Shots

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Day 19

Park Photography

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Day 21

HDR Photography

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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.

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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 dke (Day 4 - Flower Photography).

 

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 1

Frost Photography

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Day 2

Commute Photography

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Day 3

Glass Photography

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  Day 5

Car Photography

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Day 6

Football Photography

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Day 7

Food Photography

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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.