Photography News

A New Year has begun and with it comes new opportunities to better your photography. So, with a whole year ahead of you, what will you be doing differently this year? Do you want to try a new genre of photography, do you want to shoot with your smartphone? Or, quite simply, do you just want to enjoy the hobby of photography more? Whatever your plans, we've got a few New Year's Resolutions for photographers to get you thinking about your year of photography that's to come.

1. I Will Know My Gear Well

If you've got a new camera for Christmas or have fallen into the trap of switching to Auto as it's just easy to use, make this year the year you get to grips with your camera. Take the time to learn why shutter speeds are important, how apertures can change the look of your photo and why setting your white balance manually can improve your shots. Of course there are more modes, techniques and settings than listed here and you can find plenty of advice on various aspects of photography over in ePHOTOzine's techniques section. Don't overlook sitting down and reading your camera's manual too as they are usually full of good advice.
 

2. I Will Try Something New

Learn how to use a new piece of editing software or how about trying a different photography technique? There's plenty of subjects out there and you won't know if you enjoy photographing them if you don't try. If you're looking for tips, head over to ePHOTOzine's techniques section, ask your question in our forums or take a look at some of the photography books that are on offer.
 

3. I Will Take My Camera With Me More Often

Many of us are guilty of leaving the camera at home a little too often when really if we had it in the car or even in our bag, we'd take more photos. In fact, with a large amount of smartphones on the market, why not make more use of the camera that's on your phone and most likely with you all of the time? Yes, there is a chance many won't be great but you can use the shots to learn from and improve the shots you take at a later date.
 

I Will Make The Most Of The Gear I Have

Just because you don't own an expensive DSLR and a long lens doesn't mean you can't take good photos. You just have to think more about what the gear you have is capable of capturing and focus your energy into taking good shots of that with it. Plus, if you do want to photograph a particular subject but don't think you have the right gear, there are often ways to get around it. For example, for wildlife photography, you'll need longer lenses, a tripod etc. when taking your shots out in the wild which means it's not an ideal subject for compact users. However, you can capture wildlife shots at a zoo or wildlife park where you can get closer to the wildlife, making it easier for you to capture frame-filling shots.

What photographic themed resolutions have you made? Share them in the comments below. 

© Beate Ammer / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards

 

Nikon has announced this year's winner of the Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards. Mark Meth-Cohn, a keen amateur wildlife photographer from the UK – and a finalist in last year's awards - took home the top prize for his hilarious image, 'High Five'.

"High Five" is a perfectly timed capture of a gorilla dancing through a forest clearing, taken in Rwanda earlier this year. The comical photograph stood out among a record-breaking 10,000 entries from 109 countries – the highest number in the Awards' illustrious eleven-year history. From this extraordinary collection, 44 of the very best entries, including videos, were shortlisted for the judging panel to select their favourites. The competition was as fierce as ever; however, Mark's photograph emerged as a clear favourite among the judges – with the shot also claiming the Mammals Category Award.

Mark Meth-Cohn says: "We spent four unforgettable days trekking through the misty Virunga Mountains in search of the gorilla families that call them home. On this particular day, we came across a large family group known as the Amahoro family, they were gathered in a forest clearing where the adults were calmly foraging while the youngsters were enthusiastically playing. One young male was especially keen to show off his acrobatic flair: pirouetting, tumbling, and high kicking. Watching his performance was pure joy, and I'm thrilled to have captured his playful spirit in this image."  

Stefan Maier, Senior General Manager of Marketing at Nikon Europe, says: "We are so thrilled to celebrate the incredible talent and creativity showcased in this year's Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards. All of our category winners use joy, skills and imagination to capture the natural world, and Mark's winning image perfectly represents the playful spirit of wildlife. At Nikon, we are incredibly proud to support these visual storytellers and provide them with the tools to share their unique perspectives, inspiring audiences everywhere to connect with and care for our planet's remarkable wildlife."

As the overall winner of the competition, Mark Meth-Cohn will enjoy an unforgettable safari experience in the Maasai Mara, Kenya, thanks to Alex Walker's Serian. He will also receive a stunning handmade trophy crafted by the Wonder Workshop in Tanzania and a premium photography bag from the renowned THINK TANK.

Commenting on the moment he found out he had won the top prize, Mark said, "Doing well in any competition shows that the images you are producing are working. The Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards are one of the major competitions of the year, easy to enter and fun but with a seriously committed underlying ethos and, after reaching the finals last year, I'm absolutely delighted to have gone one step further and win the competition this year."

There were several other category winners this year, with special recognition for the generation of wildlife photographers. Grayson Bell from the USA won the Nikon Young Photographer Award (16 & under) and the Reptile, Amphibian & Insect Category with his striking close-up of two frogs wrestling in the water, and will receive a Nikon Z50II kit as his prize. Further celebrating the photographers of tomorrow, Paula Rustemeier from Germany triumphed in the Nikon Junior Category (25 & under) with her playful fox image "Hit the dance floor", earning a Nikon Z6III kit. Meanwhile, Tatjana Epp, also from Germany, won the Video Category with a captivating clip of a surfing heron and will receive a Nikon ZR kit.

The winners were announced on Tuesday 9th December, and the announcement is followed by a free, week-long exhibition from the 10th -14th December, where Nikon will showcase the exceptional work of the 2025 Award Finalists at the Oxo Galery in London.

This year, in collaboration with our valued partners - paper sponsor, Hahnemühle, and printing sponsor, Metro Imaging - we're proud to share that the entire Nikon Comedy Wildlife Exhibition has been curated with sustainability at its heart. All the stunning images you see on display at the exhibition have been printed by Metro on Hahnemühle's Bamboo paper – the world's first inkjet paper made from 90% bamboo fibres and 10% cotton, offering a fast growing, environmentally friendly alternative. By choosing materials that minimise environmental impact, we are ensuring that the exhibition's strong conservation message is reflected not only in the imagery but also in every aspect of its presentation. We are delighted to champion both creativity and sustainability, setting a new standard for eco-conscious exhibitions.

Nikon is also pleased to announce that voting is open from 10th December for the People's Choice Award, where the public to get to choose their favourite Finalists from 2025. The public can cast their vote at www.comedywildlifephoto.com until March 1st 2026 and the Winner of this Award will be announced on March 14th.

© Leica

 

Leica Camera AG has introduced firmware version 4.0.0 for the Leica SL-System and Leica Q3 family, bringing important upgrades that improve speed, precision, and ease of use. These updates are designed to give photographers and videographers a smoother and more creative shooting experience.

For the Leica SL3 and SL3-S, the new firmware delivers faster hybrid autofocus with more accurate detection of people and animals. System speed has been improved, and the new Multishot mode allows images to be captured at up to 240 megapixels. Direct cloud connection to Adobe Frame.io also supports a seamless professional workflow.

The Leica Q3 family benefits from a completely refreshed user interface inspired by the SL3. The update introduces redesigned icons, a clearer menu structure, faster navigation, and enhanced touch controls. With improved autofocus and customizable Leica Looks, users can enjoy a more personal and intuitive experience.

Firmware version 4.0.0 is available now and can be installed through the Leica FOTOS App or via SD card.

For more details, please visit the Leica website.