Photography News

Photo by Pete.
As Christmas markets are now decorating our towns and cities alongside them you'll occasionally find the odd ride or two which make great photographic subjects after the sun has set.    What kit is best?

When it comes to equipment, a wide-angle lens will mean you can capture shots of rides and surrounding details but do consider taking a zoom as it'll help you focus on people riding the rides, food, prizes and other items found at fairs. Your tripod is the second most important bit of kit you'll take with you as when slow shutter speeds are in use working hand-held is hard work. A remote shutter release will help eliminate the risk of blur caused by camera movement and don't forget to wrap up warm!

 

What time of the day should I head out?

If you want to shoot general wide shots of the fair then head out just as the lights are coming on when there's still a touch of colour in the sky. That way you'll be able to get the lights, stalls and other foreground interest of the fair set against a deep blue sky. Leave the flash at home though as it can kill the atmosphere you're trying to create.

For more abstract images, wait until the sky's a little darker and turn the rides into streams of light patterns. Look for rides that spin quickly or are bursting with colour as these tend to produce the better results. To do this simply have a play around with slow shutter speeds. Better still, if your camera has it, use the Bulb setting as exposures above and beyond thirty seconds will really blur the movement of the ride and also help remove anyone who happens to be walking through your shot. Just make sure auto ISO is off and that you're using the lowest setting you have. You'll also need to manually focus as auto focus will be searching around in the dark for quite a while then simply use a small aperture to get the maximum depth of field to compensate for any inaccuracies using manual focus may throw your way.

Do take the time to watch the rides to see which angle will give you the best image and do check there's nothing in the foreground that'll spoil your shot. It's also worth keeping an eye on your camera's histogram to check the exposure and consider shooting in RAW so you have the option to tweak the white balance etc. once back home. 

   

As night photographers, we sometimes have different needs than a lot of everyday photographers out there. I thought I’d make a gift guide that has us night photographers squarely in mind.

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You are taught early to fill the frame, pack every corner with mountains, clouds, and texture until nothing feels empty. The video above argues that if you never leave room around your subject, your landscapes can start to feel crowded, noisy and harder for viewers to read at a glance.

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The right focal length decides whether a scene feels flat or alive. It is a key choice for photographers who want clear subjects instead of cluttered, distant chaos.

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If you've tried to buy a Fujifilm X100VI or Ricoh GR IV in the past year, you already know the frustration. These cameras aren't just hard to find; they're nearly impossible to buy at retail price without waiting months or entering lotteries. The X100VI has been plagued by shortages since its launch, and the GR IV, officially launched on August 20, 2025, immediately followed the same pattern despite its significantly higher price tag.

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© MPB

 

Rising costs, a lack of role models and contacts, and the growing influence of AI are making it harder for young people to build creative careers, according to new research from MPB and the digital arts charity Lighthouse. A survey of 1,000 people aged 16 to 24 found that most face financial barriers, limited industry connections, and serious worries about how AI could affect future jobs. In response, MPB and Lighthouse are strengthening their partnership to offer affordable equipment, mentoring, skills training, and youth led pathways, including Lighthouse’s new national Pathways Not Projects programme, to help young people shape and succeed in the creative industries.

 

From MPB:

 

BRIGHTON, United Kingdom, 1 December 2025: The high cost of entry, a lack of role models and representation, and the advent of artificial intelligence (AI) could see the UK economy lose a generation of young creative talent, according to new research.

The research, commissioned by MPB, the leading global platform for buying, selling, and trading used photography and videography equipment, and digital arts charity Lighthouse, surveyed 1,000 16–24 year olds interested in or pursuing careers in the creative industries.

 

It has revealed stark challenges facing the next generation of talent:

• Financial barriers at the forefront: 85% of young people said the cost of equipment has prevented them from exploring a creative career, while seven in 10 (70%) worry about long-term income security.
• Lack of connections and representation: 87% fear a lack of industry contacts will hold them back, with 78% highlighting the shortage of representative role models.
• AI: a threat and an opportunity: More than half (52%) felt AI has reduced their confidence in pursuing a creative career, while 86% are concerned about its impact on jobs and the devaluation of human skills. However, many see AI’s potential as a powerful creative tool — if young people are given the chance to shape how it is used.

 

Despite these challenges, nearly half (44%) of respondents still aspire to turn their creative passion into a profession. However, fewer than one in four (22%) feel confident they can succeed — highlighting the urgent need for more accessible pathways.

 

MPB and Lighthouse partnership

Young people need access to affordable equipment, training, and mentorship to build viable careers in the creative sector. They also need guidance on how to harness emerging technologies such as AI and overcome the structural barriers of cost, connections, and representation.

To help address this, MPB has forged a partnership with Lighthouse, the digital arts charity, to empower young creatives.

Through this long-term collaboration, MPB provides access to professional photography and video kit, while Lighthouse delivers mentorship, skills development, and youth leadership opportunities. Together, they are creating sustainable pathways for underrepresented young people to overcome barriers and thrive in creative careers.

Looking ahead, Lighthouse has announced a new national initiative - Pathways Not Projects - which will establish youth steering groups within creative and arts organisations across the UK. These youth-led hubs will ensure young people themselves shape the future of the creative industries, influencing governance, budgeting, curatorship, and exploring alternative economic and creative models. They will lead sector-wide debates on AI, technology, representation, and inclusion, ensuring that new technologies strengthen rather than diminish opportunities for the next generation of talent.

 

Matt Barker, Founder and CEO of MPB, said:

"We believe creativity should be an accessible career for all, not the privileged few. This research confirms what many of us in the industry already suspect: talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not.

“At MPB, we’re committed to lowering the barrier to entry for young people, firstly by providing reliable access to more affordable equipment, and secondly via partnerships with critical organisations like Lighthouse, who support young people with the skills, mentorship, and confidence to shape the future of the creative industries."

 

Bobby, Creative Communities Producer, Lighthouse, said:

“Lighthouse exists to build pathways, community and opportunity, not just one-off projects. We pair access with agency: accessible kit (via MPB), work opportunities and youth leadership. The next generation doesn’t just want to enter the creative sector, they want to shape it. Our Future Creative Leaders programme proved this, creating governance roles and paid opportunities for young people to lead, rooted in place, community and purpose.

“At a time of AI, rising costs and shrinking opportunities, we’re doubling down on civic space and youth-led engagement. Progress is proudest when it has soil under its nails, and we’ve felt this most when giving young people real power in the room. Talent is everywhere, but opportunity is concentrated. Lighthouse offers practical support so young people can build creative lives in, and for, their own communities.”

For more information, please visit the MPB website.

 

When I am out and about doing street and urban photography—and even a lot of travel photography—my preference is to have minimal gear with me. So the ideal bag to hold what little I carry is a small shoulder bag. But there are plenty of times when I need something a little larger to carry a second camera or action camera and audio equipment for vlogging.

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- Partner Content - 

 

 

How Datacolor’s newest generation is transforming workflows for photographers, videographers and content creators worldwide

In today’s world of fast-moving visual content, colour accuracy has never been more critical. Whether you’re producing cinematic videos, building a professional photography portfolio or designing branded visuals for global audiences, what matters is simple: your images and videos must look exactly as you intended—on any device, every time.

With the newest generation of Datacolor SpyderPro, released in early November, creators now have access to tools that go far beyond traditional display calibration. SpyderPro doesn’t just correct your screen; it empowers an entire workflow. Supporting ultra-bright displays up to 12,000 nits—including OLED, QD-OLED, mini-LED and Apple Liquid Retina XDR panels—the system redefines what accurate, reliable colour management means for modern creatives.

But its real impact lies in three truly groundbreaking features:

3D LUT export, Device Preview™ Plus and Content Credentials (C2PA).

Each one solves a major challenge in today’s digital production landscape—and combined, they form a workflow ecosystem unlike anything Datacolor has offered before.

 

 

3D LUT Export – A Workflow Revolution

One of the most significant innovations in the updated SpyderPro is its ability to export 3D LUT files (.cube). SpyderPro is the first device in its class to offer 3D LUT (.cube) export, delivering highly accurate calibration for compatible video monitors. This makes it an ideal tool for professional video and cinema environments.

To experienced colourists and filmmakers, LUTs are indispensable: they bring consistency, accuracy and a high level of control to video workflows. Now, SpyderPro brings this capability directly to creators who need professional-grade calibration—without investing in expensive broadcast hardware.

3D LUT technology is widely used in the film industry for non-linear colour adjustments, such as warming skin tones or cooling shadows. Loading a 3D LUT onto a compatible video monitor (e.g., Atomos) has never been a challenge. The real issue—until now—was affordable calibration of these monitors.

With a 3D LUT, SpyderPro corrects colours across the full three-dimensional RGB colour space. Instead of adjusting colours independently along linear curves (as with 1D or 2D LUTs), a 3D LUT applies corrections that take into account all colour interactions at once. This results in:

• Exceptionally accurate, natural-looking colours
• Highly nuanced tonal transitions
• A true “what you see is what you get” preview on video monitors
• Reliable consistency across multiple screens and environments

The Challenge: Video monitors that are not permanently connected to a computer cannot rely on ICC profiles for colour management. To calibrate them, the monitor must be recognized by calibration software, measured, and then provided with colour correction values in the form of a 3D LUT.

The Solution with SpyderPro: Connect the monitor via HDMI to a computer running Spyder calibration software. The software detects the monitor and allows you to select it for calibration. After measurement, export the colour correction as a 3D LUT file to an SD card and insert it into the monitor. To do so, the monitor must support 3D LUTs and have a suitable interface (e.g., HDMI).

 

 

YouTube videos: 

Calibration of various Atomos video monitors with Datacolor SpyderPro / 3D LUT Export

Watch video

OLED TV calibration and application of colour correction via 3D LUT using a Blackmagic SDI/HDMI micro converter.

Watch video 

 

 

Device Preview™ Plus — A New Level of Colour Confidence

The new Device Preview Plus feature allows creators to simulate how their content will appear across devices and media — from smartphones and tablets to laptops, projectors or prints —directly on a calibrated display. 

It goes far beyond basic soft proofing, offering side-by-side comparisons, pixel sampling, gamut warnings, batch conversion and enhanced export options. Hence, profiles are neatly organized into three groups:

1. Display Profiles – To preview your image in AdobeRGB, ProPhoto RGB, Rec. 709 or others select the corresponding profile under Display.
2. Mobile Profiles – To preview your images on smartphones or tablets, check the Mobile section — it includes ICC profiles for many popular devices.
3. Printer Profiles – For a classic soft proof, go to Printer Profiles.

Images can be exported directly from the application with any chosen ICC profile applied.

 

 

Content Credentials (C2PA) – Safeguarding Creative Integrity

As AI-generated visuals surge and digital content spreads rapidly across platforms, creators face a serious question: How do you prove that your work is authentically yours?

Datacolor addresses this challenge with Content Credentials, an emerging industry standard (C2PA) designed to restore trust and transparency to digital media. SpyderPro can now embed tamper-resistant metadata into images and videos, documenting:

• Authorship
• Editing steps
• File provenance
• Time and date information
• Creative workflow details 

For photographers, Content Credentials add a new layer of professionalism. Every exported file carries a secure digital trail, supporting licensing, commercial production, portfolio authenticity and the protection of creative reputation. 

Content Credentials are more than metadata: they represent a future-proof investment in a media landscape where trust, authorship and authenticity matter more than ever.

More information on Datacolor’s new Spyder Pro.