Here's your latest photography news roundup — from atomic film fog to AI scandals and fresh glass:
Kodak Detected the First Atomic Bomb Test Because Its Film Kept Fogging
In August 1945, a batch of packaging cardboard made at a mill on the Wabash River turned radioactive, fogging nearby X-ray film in just two weeks. An Eastman Kodak physicist traced the mysterious spots to a nuclear test conducted nearly 1,600 km away in the New Mexico desert. The discovery went unpublished for four years.
A Giant Gold Coil by Plastique Fantastique Created a Loopy Portal on the High Line
Earlier this month, the Plastique Fantastique collective installed a monumental golden metal spiral on Manhattan's High Line, timed with New York Fashion Week. The piece forms a circular portal, turning the elevated walkway into a temporary visual landmark.
Jessops Just Fell Into the Hands of a UK Retail Giant
British photo retail chain Jessops has been acquired by AO World, the consumer electronics giant. The deal includes Camera Jungle, Jessops' used-gear division, which will be folded into AO World's broader operations.
SmallRig's Optical Viewfinders Solve Problems Both Real and Imagined
SmallRig has launched a pair of external optical viewfinders, giving photographers more framing options with their favorite cameras. They address both genuine composition issues and some less common use cases.
Californian Poppies Still Life Wins 'Photo Of The Week'
A still-life photo of orange Californian poppies arranged in vintage bottles has won ePHOTOzine's "Photo of the Week." The image stands out for its gentle composition and delicate mood, pairing the flowers with retro glass vessels.
The Viltrox 26mm F2.8 Evo is a small lens big on character
Viltrox has released the 26mm F2.8 Evo, a compact lens praised for the character of its images. The small size and affordable price come with a few compromises, according to DPreview's review.
At a 'Molecular Level,' Mu Pan Composes Meticulous Mandalas in Acrylic
Brooklyn-based artist Mu Pan creates intricate acrylic mandalas built from countless details at a "molecular level." His work is on view in the solo exhibition "Micro MUniverse," running through October 10 at Hashimoto Contemporary.
BenQ iScreenBar Mac Review: A Better Way to Light Your Workstation
BenQ has released the iScreenBar Mac, a desk lamp designed to complement workspace lighting without causing screen glare. Fstoppers' review notes that while many users spend hours at their computers, office lighting is often neglected — this accessory offers a simple fix for visual comfort.
Brightin Star's Wild 50mm f/2 Tri-Sight With Customizable Bokeh Is Here
Brightin Star has officially released the manual 50mm f/2 Tri-Sight lens, first shown at CP+. Available for full-frame E, L, RF and Z mounts, it promises three distinct rendering modes with customizable bokeh effects.
Getting a Black Background in Bright Daylight With One Light
Using a single gridded flash and a few ambient-light-blocking tricks, you can achieve a dramatic black background even at high noon in full sun — with nothing more than a concrete wall as your backdrop. Combine correct exposure with careful post-processing to replicate this moody look almost anywhere, with minimal gear.
Urban Explorers Make Grisly Discovery While Photographing Abandoned Home
Two urban explorers photographing an abandoned house in the UK made a grim discovery during a shoot documenting derelict buildings. Full details are available in the source article on PetaPixel.
Balancing Flash and Daylight for Sharper Macro Photos
Macro photography of subjects like butterflies and bees is tough with natural light alone, thanks to solid-black eyes and fast movement between differently lit flowers. A small flash helps produce sharper, more detailed images than most photographers expect.
Italian Politician Sparks AI Scandal With Doctored Photo That 'Undressed' Female Lawmaker
An Italian politician has sparked outrage after sharing an AI-manipulated image appearing to "undress" a fellow lawmaker. The incident comes months after Italy's Prime Minister shared a fake nude deepfake of herself to highlight the dangers of the technology.
There's More to Good Color in Lightroom Than Color Harmony
When colors in a Lightroom edit look gray, muddy, or garish, the instinct is to open the color mixer and tweak hue and saturation. That approach can lead to 20 adjustments canceling each other out, leaving the final result no better than the original raw file.
James Webb Captures Galaxies Magnified More Than 300 Times
The James Webb Space Telescope has photographed the galaxy cluster MACS J0454.1-0300, where gravity warps and magnifies galaxies far behind it. This phenomenon, known as gravitational lensing, reveals distant galaxies magnified over 300 times.
A One-of-a-Kind Laowa 24mm f/2 Tilt-Shift Lens Is On the Way
Venus Optics is preparing to launch a new tilt-shift lens, the Laowa T/S 24mm f/2. It hasn't been officially announced in the US yet, but the release appears imminent.
Just announced: 7Artisans AF 18mm f/2 lens for Sony E-mount
7Artisans has officially launched the AF 18mm f/2 lens for Sony E-mount, following earlier rumors. Preorders are already open at B&H Photo and the 7Artisans online store.
OM System PEN studio scene: see how much image quality you can carry with you
Studio images and RAW file analysis for the new OM System PEN confirm the performance seen in field tests. The results show just how much image quality you can get from this compact, easy-to-carry camera.
Hands-On With the Nikon Z5IIC: A Z5II Without the EVF
Nikon has launched the Z5IIC, a version of the Z5II that drops the electronic viewfinder while keeping the rest of the entry-level mirrorless camera's features. The article shares first hands-on impressions of this new model, aimed at further lowering the cost of entry into the Nikon Z system.
Imagen Challenges the Traditional Photography Workflow
Imagen has launched Intelligent Studio, adding a built-in RAW/JPEG editor, a multi-step Assistant, and AI-powered filters. The company has also revised its pay-as-you-go pricing model, shifting to a per-export charge.