📸 Here's your latest photography news roundup — grab a coffee and scroll through!
A GI Got a Leica from a Captured Soldier and Spent a Decade Photographing Post-WWII World Rebuilding
In 1945, John Baer, a soldier with the 644th Tank Destroyer Battalion, came into possession of a Leica camera from a captured soldier, with no initial plans to become a photographer. The camera changed his path — for a decade, he documented the world's reconstruction after WWII.
Hands On First Look At The New Canon EOS R8 Mark II
Canon has announced its new full-frame EOS R8 Mark II, and the author got an early chance to test it. First impressions and full details are in the original Fstoppers article.
Affinity's Latest Update Is Its "Biggest Ever" for Free Photo Editing
Affinity has released its most extensive update yet for its free photo editing app, bringing a complete overhaul of the Raw file workflow, aimed at improving the app's all-in-one editing experience.
54 Lens Caps Have Been Removed From Yellowstone's Hydrothermal Areas So Far This Year
Yellowstone staff have collected 54 lens caps lost by visitors in the park's sensitive hydrothermal areas this year alone. Such items turn up frequently near popular spots like Old Faithful, Midway Geyser Basin, and Morning Glory Pool, along with other tourist litter.
Art History and Pop Culture Converge in Friedrich Kunath's 'The Nearest Faraway Place'
Artist Friedrich Kunath blends art history and pop culture in his exhibition "The Nearest Faraway Place," painting scenes that merge classical references with contemporary elements. He describes his work as meant to "feel like songs," leaning on emotion and nostalgia.
Insta360 Luna Pro Could Replace Half Your Creator Bag
Insta360 has launched the Luna Pro, combining a 1-inch Leica sensor, 8K video, a three-axis gimbal, and a detachable touchscreen. By integrating these features into one device, it could replace multiple separate tools in a content creator's bag.
Sony's 400mm F4.5 and 600mm F6.3 GM Are So Alike, It's Easy to Grab the Wrong One
Sony has released two nearly identical GM telephoto lenses — the 400mm F4.5 and 600mm F6.3 — differing by just 1 gram in weight and 21mm in length. Tested in wildlife photography conditions, both share the same controls and build, but with distinct quirks in use.
The Undeveloped Film Market: The People Who Buy Strangers' Mystery Rolls at Estate Sales
In 2014, photographer Levi Bettwieser from Boise bought a lot of 31 undeveloped film rolls at an Ohio auction, which turned out to be the visual record of a WWII American soldier — exposed but never processed for nearly 70 years. The discovery revealed a niche market of collectors and photographers hunting for mystery rolls at estate sales, hoping to uncover images forgotten by history.
Amateur Astronomer Discovers Impact Crater from a Satellite Map
Amateur astronomer Joël Lapointe was scanning satellite maps for a camping spot when he noticed an unusual formation in northern Quebec, near Lac Marsal. It turned out to be an impact crater, spotted purely by chance while browsing satellite imagery.
Affinity 3.3 Powers Up the Free App's RAW Photo Processing
Canva has launched ProSuite, integrating its professional tools — Affinity, Cavalry, Flourish, and Leonardo — with over 100 new features. Affinity, the free Photoshop competitor, gets version 3.3, significantly improving RAW photo processing.
The Most Portable Darkroom I've Ever Used: REEL Paper 8 Field Test
Vintage Visual claims its REEL Paper 8 lets you make photo prints up to 12x16 inches virtually anywhere, acting as a kind of portable darkroom. A photographer put it to the test in Nantahala National Forest to see how it performs in real field conditions.
Ilford's 'Very Limited' New Black-and-White 35mm Film Is Sharper and Has Better Dynamic Range
Ilford Photo has released a limited edition black-and-white film, the Ilford Delta 400 Professional Collector's Edition, available in very small quantities. The new stock promises sharper images and improved dynamic range over previous versions.
Fujifilm Launched instax Pal 2 Ultra-Portable Digital Camera
Fujifilm has launched the instax Pal 2, an ultra-portable digital camera with an optical viewfinder and animation-capture function. It's compatible with wireless instax printers for quick photo transfer and printing.
Canon's Free Dual Pixel 3D Software Turns Supported EOS R Photos into 3D Models
Canon has released the free Dual Pixel 3D Converter, a Windows app that uses depth data from compatible Canon EOS R photos to generate 3D models. It enables stereoscopic photos and MP4 clips without needing a dedicated 3D camera.
Art by Humans, For Humans: A Letter from Our Editorial Director
Colossal shares a letter from its editorial director reaffirming art's role as an act of faith and hope in a often-difficult world. The piece is also a call to support the publication through membership subscriptions, starting at just $7/month, to keep independent art journalism going.
NASA's Roman Space Telescope Takes Its First Look at the Stars
NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope has captured its first image of stars — though they don't appear as the crisp points of light you'd expect. It's an important first step before the telescope enters full operation for astronomical observations.
Canon Just Patented an Insane f/2 Telephoto Zoom
Canon has filed a patent for a 70-135mm f/2 zoom lens for full-frame cameras, featuring internal zoom and a fixed front group — seemingly a direct response to last year's Sony FE 50-150mm f/2 GM. The patent's numerical example shows a range of 72.10-136.89mm at f/2.05, with an optical length of 211mm to the sensor, putting it in the same physical class as the Sony lens.
Fujifilm Unveils instax Link WIDE 2 Smartphone Printer with Photo Mixer
Fujifilm has launched the instax Link WIDE 2, designed for instant printing straight from your smartphone. The headline feature is the app's Photo Mixer function, alongside expanded customization options for printed photos.
OM System Says You've Never Seen Birds Like This Before
OM System is sponsoring a new season of "Wild Birds Revealed," showcasing spectacular wild birds. The project features wildlife photographers Tim and Russell Laman, known for their remarkable nature imagery.
The Largest Roman Mosaic Ever Excavated Opens to the Public
The largest Roman mosaic ever discovered, dubbed the "Great Mosaic" and possibly the biggest in the entire Roman world, has now opened to the public. The find offers a stunning glimpse into the scale and craftsmanship of decorative art from the Roman era.