Photography News

 

Cities are well known for having a 'buzz' that's created by the people and traffic that move through their streets. But how do you capture this busyness? Well here are four ways to do just that.

 

1. Find Popular Spots

Sounds obvious, we know, but finding a spot full of people, such as Times Square in New York, will make your job easier. Do be warned though, sometimes places can get too busy and you'll spend more time fighting crowds than you will be taking photos. You can try visiting at various times during the day to check for less busy times but don't expect to be able to turn up early in the morning and the same buzz intensity be there as chances are, most tourists/residents will still be in bed.

 

2. Movement

Long lines of traffic, underground trains or even crowds of people moving home after a day at work can all be captured to emphasise the busyness of a town or city.

Try panning with your subject, keeping your feet slightly apart, creating a sturdy base for you to shoot from. Lock your focus and use continuous focusing if your lens struggles to focus on your subject and switch to burst mode to increase your chances of capturing the shot you're after.

To really add a sense of pace to your shots, use a little bit of blur. Blurring the background while your subject stays sharp is often the approach most go for but it can be tricky to get right... How good you are at panning, what shutter speed you use, how fast your subject's moving and how much light's around will make this harder/easier each time you try it, however, it's worth persisting with as you can create some cracking shots with this technique. Just remember to pick the right shutter speed as if you go too high your subject will look static, too slow and there could be too much blur.

Don't overlook adding a little blur to your subject as this will emphasise motion and add more drama to your shots. We say 'a little' as if you add too much, it can look like you just took a bad photo.

Try experimenting with zoom burst to deliberately add blur to your shot by twisting your zoom lens. As well as emphasising movement it can help make your subject, who's not blurred, 'pop' from the frame. A burst of light from a flashgun will help freeze your subject and add sharpness to the image. It's a fun but tricky technique that can take quite a few attempts to get right. For more tips on creating zoom blur, take a look at our Zoom Burst Photography Article.

 

 

3. Light Trails / Traffic

Towns and cities are full of traffic and by using long exposures to turn headlights into long streams of colour's another way to create a sense of pace. To do this successfully you need to find a spot at night where vehicles will pass under/by you with their lights on. You then need to put your camera on a tripod, set a long exposure and wait for the lines of traffic to turn into streaks of colourful lights. For more tips, have a look at our previous article on Photographing Light Trails.

 

4. Alternative Vantage Points

Try getting in a lift and shooting from the top of a building (if possible) or, if you're on a city break and are staying in a hotel, shoot from your own window or make use of your balcony (if you have one). Look out for observation decks, bridges and even the big wheels that are popping up in cities. These usually take an hour to complete a full circle giving you ample time to get a few shots of the city below. By doing so you'll be able to capture patterns you can't see at street level such as the lines street lights form as they turn on or the shapes created as traffic moves through the streets.

As someone who relies heavily on a geared head for precise hospitality work, the increasing demand for speed and video applications has left me considering how to integrate a hybrid ball head system into my professional workflow. Specifically, I was looking for a unit that acts as a traditional fluid head, yet retains the multi-axis freedom of a ball head for dynamic still photography—all without lugging around two different support systems.

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Most advice on personal projects follows the same order: settle on a concept, write a rationale, set some rules, and only then pick up the camera. That sequence keeps a body of work coherent, though it can also screen out the images you keep returning to before you have any idea why they pull at you.

 

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Crafting beautiful portraits with a simple camera and lighting setup is possible, and limiting our gear choices can lead to even more creative results. 

In my latest YouTube video, I demonstrate how I use natural light, strobe, and continuous light to create portraits. Instead of focusing on a ton of gear, I use simple setups, starting with just a window, and then show how I can use one Westcott FJ100 M hot shoe flash and a Joel Grimes Beauty Dish, and later one Westcott L120-B continuous light with the same modifier, to create varied results.

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Background blur is usually the first effect you learn to create on purpose, and that early success tends to shape how you shoot for years. The settings you lean on, from aperture to shutter speed to exposure mode, decide whether your images feel flat or deep long before you open an editor.

 

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© Neurapix

 

Neurapix has launched Flow, a new workflow automation service that starts with image import into Lightroom Classic. With Flow Live, photos upload over Wi-Fi the moment the shutter is released, then the Neurapix AI edits them using the photographer’s SmartPreset and delivers them to Lightroom Classic within seconds. Flow Card starts an automatic import when a memory card is inserted into the computer.

 

From Neurapix:

 

Photos edited straight from the camera and transferred to Lightroom in real time: With the launch of Flow, German AI photo editing company Neurapix is taking another major step toward an automated workflow. Whether via Wi-Fi or SD card, photos arrive fully edited and ready for delivery in Lightroom Classic.

Flow is Neurapix's new umbrella for workflow automation, and the company's first move beyond editing and culling into the steps that come before and after. The initial focus is on image import, with two possible routes photographers can take depending on their use case.

Flow Live is Neurapix's name for the direct Wi-Fi upload of photos from the camera. After a one-time setup*, every image is transferred automatically the moment the shutter is released. Once uploaded, it is edited by the Neurapix AI in the photographer's individual style using their SmartPreset and delivered straight to Adobe Lightroom Classic within seconds. The images are ready for culling and delivery before the shoot is over.

Flow Card describes the import via SD card, for example, when swapping cards during a shoot or when handling very large volumes of data. As soon as the memory card is inserted into the computer, the import into Lightroom Classic starts automatically. All images are then edited with Neurapix and prepared for culling with Neurapix Culling.

 

For everyone who needs (or wants) to deliver fast

Delivery speed is becoming the deciding factor in more and more photography segments. That's exactly what Neurapix Flow was developed for:

• Event and sports photographers send finished, stylistically consistent images to their agency or editorial desk while the event or game is still underway. No card reader, no all-nighter.
• Wedding photographers know the race against "Uncle Bob": minutes after the first dance, the guests' smartphone photos are already on WhatsApp or social media. With Neurapix Flow, the professionally edited photos land in Lightroom Classic while the party is still going. The first images can be handed over to the couple during the celebration itself.
• Family and portrait photographers show their clients a first selection of finished images at the end of the session, which turns same-day delivery into a bookable premium service.
• Content creators focused on social media have publication-ready photos in Lightroom Classic in real time so they can shoot, select and post while the moment is still trending.

 

Photographers stay in full control

As with every Neurapix edit, nothing is "burned" into the photo files: the AI simply sets the Lightroom sliders and the crop for each individual image. Photographers can continue editing every photo exactly where the AI left off right in Lightroom Classic.

"Whoever delivers first wins. That's as true at the sports desk as it is at a wedding reception," says Neurapix co-founder and CEO Nils Sauder. "With Neurapix Flow, images edited in the photographer's own style are available seconds after the shutter is released. At the same time, photographers retain full control. Neurapix Flow turns shooting and editing into a single step."

The new service is available to all Neurapix users after updating the Lightroom Classic plugin or installing it for the first time, and costs nothing extra for now. That means it is free on the Neurapix Unlimited plan, and on the Pay-per-Picture plan images are billed at the usual rate of 4 to 5 cents each.

* Neurapix Flow works with any camera that supports FTP transfer, as well as with the major camera manufacturers' cloud services. For more details, please visit the Neurapix Flow website.

 

About: Neurapix is a German AI start-up based in Goettingen that was founded in 2021. The company has developed an artificial intelligence that is able to learn a photographer's image editing style and apply it within Adobe Lightroom Classic. This allows photographers to have large numbers of photos edited in their own style, resulting in significant time savings of around 90%. More information: www.neurapix.com

Samyang's three f/2.8 zooms, co-designed with Schneider-Kreuznach, cover 14mm to 180mm on Sony full frame bodies while stepping away from the familiar 16-35mm, 24-70mm, and 70-200mm ranges. Trimming a few millimeters here and adding a few there is how a lens maker cuts size, weight, and price, and those are the things that decide whether a lens leaves your house or stays on the shelf.

 

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Nikon now owns RED, and the first camera to come out of that deal is the Nikon ZR, a compact body that records RED's raw codec for a little over $2,000. If you shoot video for clients or your own films, that pairing puts a codec once tied to cinema camera budgets inside a body small enough to balance on a basic gimbal.

 

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You've probably never considered your kitchen as a location for photography or as a place you can find tools that will actually help you better your photography skills but after reading this article, you'll soon realise it is. Things like pots and pans, colanders and even a trivet can be pressed into service as subjects.

Here's a list of items found in your kitchen that can help you better your photography or can make interesting subjects for your indoor shots. 

 

1. Aluminium Foil

Aluminium foil isn't very expensive and it can help you create interesting backgrounds as well as bounce extra light into your shots. Add creases and lines to the foil to create textured backgrounds or get a little creative and make your own reflector by sticking silver foil to something that'll give it a bit more rigidity such as a piece of card. You could make a variety of sizes so you have reflectors that are suitable for a variety of subjects including portraits and Autumn macro work. 

  2. Metal Colander

You can bounce light from your flashgun into this kitchen utensil that'll widen the light, making it less harsh than direct flash alone. The humble colander can also be used as a photographic subject, cropping in close to focus on its shape. For the shot above, the camera was switched to incandescent white balance to create the blue cast and the lens was pulled back to include the sink which makes an interesting background. Foil was used to fill in shadows. 

 

3. Cutlery 

Spoons and forks can be used in still life images as well as in arty kitchen-themed images on their own. 

Before you start, you need to make sure your cutlery is clean and pick your backgrounds carefully. When it comes to placement, experimentation is key as there are various ways to arrange your props for a successful shot. For more tips, have a read of these articles:

• Tips On Photographing A Simple Still Life Shot
• Tips On Shooting Utensils And Cutlery In The Kitchen
   

4. Backgrounds

Worktops, wooden chopping boards and even the kitchen sink can be used as backgrounds for your shots. In fact, objects can be simply arranged on the worktop in various compositions, with the camera and lens simply aimed downwards.

 

5. Greaseproof Paper

Used by bakers normally, greaseproof paper can be used to diffuse light either from windows or flashguns. 

 

6. Food Photography 

Raid the fridge and you'll soon have plenty of items worth photographing. For tips on how you can improve your food photography shots, have a read of this: 10 Top Tips For Taking Better Photos Of Food.   

Getty Images image number 53509740 is still on Getty's site today, and the caption still reads: "Two residents wade through chest deep water after finding bread and soda from a local grocery store after Hurricane Katrina came through the area on August 29, 2005 in New Orleans, Louisiana." An Associated Press frame of a young Black man in chest-deep water, carrying what looks like a case of Pepsi under one arm and a full garbage bag, said he was looting. Two decades of argument later, the disputed wording is still there. 

 

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Every Leica shooter has a dream lens they would love to buy. Price is usually the obstacle, but sometimes that lens is not only expensive but rare as well. Perhaps no other Leica lens is more sought after than the Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 with the word “Aspherical” written in full on the rim. It is unlikely you will ever own this lens, but there is an alternative option in the form of the Light Lens Lab 35mm f/1.4 Aspherical “11873”.

  

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Nikon's NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.2 S sells for close to $3,000 and weighs more than many of the bodies you'd mount it on. For about three years, it has been the obvious pick on Z mount if you want the thinnest depth of field and the cleanest portrait rendering, and now cheaper third-party 85mm f/1.2 lenses are showing up to test how long that lasts.

 

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Stiff portraits usually come from a subject who feels watched and unsure, and no lens or lighting setup hides that tension once it settles into someone's shoulders and face. If you photograph people who aren't professional models, how relaxed they feel shapes nearly every frame you take.

 

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Lightroom can now open closed eyes in a photo, a job that used to mean digging through a burst for a donor frame and blending it in by hand in Photoshop. If you shoot portraits, events, or group photos, a blink is one of the most common reasons a frame with good expression and good light lands in the reject pile.

 

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The Nikon Z5IIC puts a full frame sensor, in-body stabilization, and raw video into a $1,400 body by dropping the viewfinder, and people argued about that choice before most of them had held one. If you shoot weddings or travel, or if you're weighing a second body, the useful question is how that missing eyepiece and a pricier compact Sony rival play out over a real day of shooting.

 

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When it's cloudy, dull and looking like rain, the last thing most of you will want to do is head outside with your camera. But when you add Autumn into the mix, things do start to get a little better.  Dark skies full of rain clouds can work as a brilliant backdrop for trees covered in the warm shades of the season, colours contrast extremely well and a sky filled with rain clouds, plus the reds and yellows of Autumn, give you the chance to capture some great moody shots.

 

1. Find Some Colour

When shooting on dull days, colour will 'pop' from the grey, stormy sky and add much-needed interest to your shot. It could be a block of colour such as a wide shot of a forest decorated with Autumnal shades or a smaller colourful focus point such as a single tree or even a leaf snapped in your own back garden. If you want to enhance the sky, try fitting an ND Grad Filter to the front of your lens.
 

2. Be In The Right Place At The Right Time

If you're heading out, it's worth noting down a few locations you know will look great in this sort of weather so when the low winter sun does breakthrough and adds a stream of light to your scene, you're there and ready to take the shot. This could mean you end up setting up when the rain's still falling which means you need to protect yourself and more importantly your gear from the elements. Pack a waterproof cover, keep your gear in your camera bag for as long as possible and have a lens cloth to hand to wipe any drops that fall on your lens. If your camera is waterproof or splashproof the wet weather shouldn't bother it too much but once you're home, remember to unpack your gear and leave it out to dry fully. Another bonus of working just after it's rained is everything looks naturally more saturated because it's wet.

 

 

3. Get Rid Of The Sky

If the sky is really too boring, you can always remove it from the shot by either cropping it out during post-production (if you can without spoiling the shot) or by using a telephoto to pull your subject to you, excluding the sky as you do.

 

4. White Balance

Instead of shooting with auto white balance, which can remove some of the punch the autumn shades have, try setting it manually so the colours are as vibrant as you can make them. Then, if you want to give the shot more punch, you can always adjust the image during post-production.

  5. Work Under The Forest Canopy

A good covering of cloud will make the light under the forest's canopy more even so it's a good time to shoot some close-up shots of mushrooms, bark and autumn leaves that have fallen to the floor.

© FUJIFILM

 

Fujifilm Europe has announced the instax SQUARE 2, the latest camera in its square-format instant range. It has automatic exposure, automatic flash, a built-in selfie mirror and a new Mood Filter Switch that lets you choose a Warm tone, a Cool tone or the standard instax film look. It comes in Slate Blue, Misty White and Brick Red, and is expected in the UK in late October 2026. Fujifilm is also launching instax SQUARE Soft Haze film, which has reduced saturation and contrast for a softer look. Each pack contains 10 exposures.

 

From Fujifilm:

 

FUJIFILM Europe GmbH, Imaging Solutions Division, today announced the launch of its instax SQUARE 2™ instant camera (hereafter SQUARE 2), the latest iteration in its iconic and popular instax™ SQUARE product lineup. SQUARE 2 brings a refreshed look and new features to fans of square instant photos. 

“Our instax™ SQUARE products have always been a much-loved part of the instax™ range, offering a format that feels both classic and timeless.” said Karina Thomsen, Marketing Director, European Consumer Imaging, FUJIFILM Europe. “We’ve heard from our customers that they’ve been looking for a new SQUARE camera, so we’re really excited to introduce a fresh design with brand new features. It brings something different to the SQUARE lineup while retaining everything people love about the format.”

In addition to Automatic Exposure and Automatic Flash features, SQUARE 2 features the new Mood Filter Switch, which allows users to adjust the overall colour, tone, or mood of their photos. Users can choose Warm for a subtle golden tone, Cool for crisp, blue-toned colour, or Off for the classic instax™ film look. 

 

© FUJIFILM

 

Key Features Recap:

• Clean, new sculpted body design 
• Built-in Selfie Mirror 
• Automatic Exposure 
• Automatic Flash 
• Intuitive twist-to-operate controls, including selection of three shooting modes: Close-up Mode, Landscape Mode & Standard Mode  
• Two Mood Filters (Cool or Warm) 
• Prints on instax™ SQUARE instant film (instax™ SQUARE instant film sold separately) 
• Available in 3 colours: Slate Blue, Misty White or Brick Red 
• Includes: Hand Strap, Quick Start Guide, (4) AA Batteries and 1 Year Limited Warranty

 

© FUJIFILM

 

New Film Variety

Accompanying the introduction of SQUARE 2, Fujifilm is also announcing a new instax™ SQUARE instant film, SOFT HAZE. Featuring colour tone with reduced saturation and contrast, this new instant film creates an overall softer look to the photos with glowing highlights and warm, diffused shadows. Each instant film pack contains 10 exposures.

 

Pricing and Availability

FUJIFILM instax SQUARE 2™ instant camera is expected to be available in the UK in late October 2026 at a Suggested Retail Price of £94.99 (including VAT). instax™ SQUARE Soft Haze instant film is also expected to be available in the UK in late October 2026 at a Suggested Retail Price of £9.99 (including VAT). 

 

The instax SQUARE 2™ will be available from following retailers: 

• FUJIFILM House of Photography*
• FUJIFILM eShop
• John Lewis & Partners
• Boots
• Argos
• Amazon*
• Currys
• Jessops*
• London Camera Exchange*
• Wex Photo Video*
• Harvey Norman*

(* Denotes pre-order is available)

For more information, please visit the official Fujifilm instax website.

 

About instax™

Since its original launch in 1998, the instax™ series of instant cameras has embraced trends and evolving technologies with time and expanded its lineup to include not only analogue instant cameras, but also hybrid instant cameras using digital technology, smartphone printers and a palm-sized digital camera. instax™ continues to offer diverse ways to enjoy photography, broadening the user base in more than 100 countries.

 

UREVO, a global leader in smart fitness technology, today spotlights its CyberPad for Office and Foldimax 5L smart walking pads as practical companions for autumn, helping people maintain regular movement as temperatures drop and outdoor exercise becomes less appealing. UREVO is a global innovator in smart fitness technology, dedicated to creating high-quality solutions that empower individuals to lead healthier lives.

The FoldiMix 5L is available now in the UK on Sale for £399.99 (RRP £499.99) on the UREVO website and in the US on Sale for $311.99 (RRP $499.99) on the UREVO website. 

The CyberPad for Office is available now in the UK On Sale for £399.99 (RRP £499.99) on the UREVO website and in the US for $429.99 (RRP $479.99) on the UREVO website.

For many people, colder autumn weather can make outdoor walks, runs and cycles harder to fit into the day. Whether it is fitting in an active break between meetings, walking while watching a programme at home, or taking on a more challenging incline session in the evening, these two UREVO walking pads are designed to make indoor activity easier to incorporate into a busy routine.

The CyberPad for Office is designed for workspaces and under-desk movement, combining a compact 42.9-inch by 22.8-inch frame with a 2.5HP dual brushless motor and 0 to 14 percent automatic incline. Its 39.4-inch by 16.5-inch walking surface supports speeds from 0.6 to 4.0 MPH, while the UREVO app provides activity tracking and workout controls. With a stated maximum load of 400lbs, the CyberPad offers an office-friendly option for building regular movement into the working day.

 

 

For those looking for an at-home walking solution with a stronger focus on incline training, the Foldimax 5L combines a built-in desk that supports use as a standing desk with a 2.5HP dual brushless motor and nine levels of automatic incline, reaching up to 9 percent. The unit offers speeds of 0.6 to 4.0 MPH, a 39.4-inch by 15.8-inch belt, a stated 300lb maximum user weight and a 12-point shock-absorption system. Connected UREVO app features include World Tour routes, HIIT workouts and activity tracking, helping users set tangible goals as the season changes.

Autumn does not need to mean losing momentum. By bringing movement indoors, people can maintain fitness routines through colder weather while staying comfortable at home or at work. With app-connected tracking, compact footprints and adjustable inclines, the CyberPad for Office and Foldimax 5L provide flexible options for staying active as temperatures drop.

• UREVO CyberPad for Office: 2.5HP dual brushless motor; 0 to 14 percent auto incline; 0.6 to 4.0 MPH speed range; 39.4-inch by 16.5-inch walking area; 400lb stated maximum load; app connectivity; 42.9-inch by 22.8-inch by 6.3-inch product
• UREVO Foldimax 5L: built-in desk for standing-desk use; 2.5HP dual brushless motor; nine-level auto incline up to 9 percent; 0.6 to 4.0 MPH speed range; 39.4-inch by 15.8-inch walking belt; 300lb stated maximum user weight; 12-point shock absorption; UREVO app support.

The FoldiMix 5L is available now in the UK on Sale for £399.99 (RRP £499.99) on the UREVO website and in the US on Sale for $311.99 (RRP $499.99) on the UREVO website. 

The CyberPad for Office is available now in the UK On Sale for £399.99 (RRP £499.99) on the UREVO website and in the US for $429.99 (RRP $479.99) on the UREVO website.

 

About UREVO

UREVO is a global innovator in smart fitness technology, dedicated to creating high-quality solutions that empower individuals to lead healthier lives. With a focus on advanced engineering and sleek design, UREVO products integrate into modern lifestyles, making fitness accessible and enjoyable for all.

The National Archives still lists the negative as "Crowd of citizens, soldiers, and etc. with Abraham Lincoln at Gettysburg." Everything before the president's name is the label the plate wore in federal storage for most of a century. The rest is there because Josephine Cobb enlarged a broken piece of glass about 20 times in 1952 and found him in it.

 

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Peak Design's Travel Tripod is probably one of the most talked-about tripods on this site, and opinions have been polarized. Since the brand has expanded its tripod lineup with three new Pro models, it's clearly important that we see their differences and optimal use cases.

 

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