Photography News

© IBC 2025

 

Nikon, a world leading provider of imaging products and services, is thrilled to announce it will be exhibiting at the IBC Show 2025, the global platform where the future of media and entertainment is imagined – and made real.

Nikon is proud to be part of this year's line-up, where creatives, technologists and business leaders from across the entertainment and technology industries unite around the latest in trends and innovations, reshaping the industry from the ground up.

Taking place at the RAI Amsterdam from September 12th – 15th, Nikon, RED, and MRMC will be joining forces at IBC 2025 with one combined booth. Each company brings unique strengths: Nikon with their mirrorless cameras and lenses, RED with their cinema solutions, and MRMC with robotic broadcast technology.

There will be opportunities to demo products from each company, including Nikon's mirrorless range.

The Nikon booth will include:

• A dedicated workstation demonstrating Nikon's mirrorless camera line up, lenses and accessories.
• A stage area, where Nikon will be hosting insightful and inspirational talks with talented creators.
• An immersive product experience area – where visitors of the booth can demo Nikon, RED and MRMC products.

The IBC Show 2025 takes place in the RAI Amsterdam on 12th – 15th September. The Nikon booth will be situated in Hall 11. For more information on IBC 2025, please visit the event's website.

 

Beach huts are wonderfully photogenic and you can get great pictures of them almost regardless of the lighting conditions. However, beach huts get elevated to iconic status when the scene is complemented by a photogenic sky.

 

1. Gear Suggestions

A wide-angle will help you make the most of big skies, but even the short end of your standard zoom should be fine. Obviously the wider your lens the more sky that you can include. However, there is the danger of going too wide and including fantastic sky detail as well as more mundane bits, so do frame carefully. A selection of filters can come in very handy so do pack some graduates as well as the polariser.
 

2. When?

Lovely skies can occur at any time of year and at any time of day so you just have to be aware of the conditions and keep an eye on what’s happening. With heavy showers followed by brief spells of intense sunlight, there is every chance of dramatic skies, not to mention things like rainbows.

Periodically check what’s happening in the heavens as the day progresses and in the end, you might end up with a good set of images, all taken from the same spot but looking very different as the sky is constantly changing.

 

3. Metering

Exposure can be tricky because of the wide contrast range between the sky and the beach huts, so you need to think about metering to ensure the optimum result. In some cases, you might even find the foreground to be brighter than the sky, say when there is a doom-laden dark sky behind the sunlit huts.

With this sort of shot, the most important of the scene is the highlight detail (usually the sky) so meter off that and let the shadows worry about themselves. If the foreground then looks too gloomy use exposure compensation to help and reshoot.

If the light is changing quickly, and this can happen in stormy conditions, bracket exposures to make sure you get a result you are happy with. If you find the sky is still coming out too light, fit a graduate filter.

 

 

4. Enhance

A polariser can intensity a colourful or a stormy sky depending on the direction of the light so that too can work. A polariser can enhance a sky to make it work even better for a black & white conversion. However, you might prefer the natural approach and that is perfectly fine.

 

5. Composition

In terms of composition, being bold can help. Some people might want to compose using the rule-of-thirds, but this can actually look rather static. Lining up the huts along the very bottom of the frame can work better and give even more prominence to the sky. Just explore the options when you are framing up the shot.

 

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In landscape photography, knowledge is often treated like a guarded secret, but I’ve always believed it should be shared freely. With Essential Landscape Photography Skills Volume 2, I wanted to continue what I started with Volume 1—making valuable lessons accessible to everyone at no cost. What surprised me most was how giving away knowledge didn’t just help others grow in their photography; it created a ripple effect that came back to strengthen my own journey too.

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Wedding photographers have been dodging “Uncle Bobs” for decades, but there is a new guest in the way. The content creator is here, and they are not going anywhere.

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The 56mm focal length has long been a favorite for portraits, offering a flattering perspective and natural compression. A lens that brings wide-open sharpness and low-light ability at this focal length is going to attract attention, especially when it’s priced to compete with established options. If you shoot with Sony E or Fujifilm X cameras, a new choice has just arrived that challenges what you might expect from an APS-C lens.

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Introducing Hohem’s latest smartphone gimbal, the iSteady V3 Ultra, an upgraded version of Hohem’s V series gimbal. It brings the functionality of its bigger brother, the M series smartphone gimbal, to this more budget- and consumer-friendly product. This also means that we finally have an affordable AI-powered gimbal that actually allows you to see what it is tracking through the magnetic AI tracker, with the introduction of the detachable touchscreen remote controller.

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The Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S II lens is one of those tools that can shape how you approach a wedding day. It’s versatile enough to carry you through both photography and video, which makes it a practical choice when you want to travel lighter or avoid juggling too many lenses. Weddings move quickly, and the ability to adapt in seconds matters.

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Macro photography pushes your camera to the edge of what it can do. The closer you get to your subject, the harder it is to keep details sharp, handle movement, and get enough depth of field to show what matters. Your gear can either make this easier or much harder, and the choice of system has a huge impact on how you work.

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Use a tripod when shooting macro work to reduce the chances of shake creeping into the shot.

Camera shake, which can occur when you're not holding/supporting the camera correctly, can really spoil your shots but it's a problem that can be easily fixed. Most cameras now have features that help them prevent camera shake, however, there are still a few things the photographer can do to limit or even remove the shake that blurs your shots completely.

 

1. Use A Tripod

This may seem like an obvious response, but sometimes it may not be your first thought to use a tripod. A tripod will make a big difference to images if camera shake is a recurring issue. If you're travelling light, even a small tripod/stand that you can keep attached to the bottom of the camera will be handy for placing the camera down without worrying about scratching the bottom.

 

2. Shutter Speeds 

If you're working handheld, try and use the fastest shutter speed possible to minimise the risk of blur. If you're working in low light, try upping the ISO a little to enable you to shoot with faster shutter speeds, too. If your camera doesn't tend to produce good-quality shots when higher ISOs are used, take your tripod with you so you can use longer shutter speeds without having to worry about shake spoiling your shots. 

 

 

3. Remote Release

A remote release will enable you to trigger the shutter without physically pressing the shutter button and causing minute vibrations which can cause shake. Some cameras also allow you to trigger the camera using a connected smartphone or tablet device, which will work just the same as the remote release to stop vibrations. You can also use your camera's self-timer if you don't have one as even though you're still touching the camera, the timer should mean the camera's stopped moving by the time the exposure begins. 

 

4. Stance and Breathing

The way you hold your camera can have a big effect on the amount of blur caused by your own movement. Hold the camera with two hands close to your body and make sure your feet are shoulder-width apart. If composing with the screen, keep your elbows tucked in as you'll stand a better chance of capturing a steady image. Being conscious of your breathing can further minimise shake. Some suggest taking a deep breath, holding it, taking your shot and exhaling while others prefer to do it the other way around. It's not something that's recommended for very long exposures, though! 

 

5. Use Objects For Support

You may find leaning against a tree or a wall useful to steady your images. Do use the built-in level if you do this, however, to make sure that your horizon stays straight, as leaning can cause wonky images. You could also take a beanbag out with you or if you're really struggling to find a support, see if your camera bag will help. 

 

 

You've read the technique now share your related photos for the chance to win prizes: Daily Forum Competition  

Camera makers design their gear for the broadest possible audience. Out of the box, the settings are meant to serve vacationers, hobbyists, and anyone who just wants to point and shoot without digging into a menu. These defaults are tuned for safety, not precision, and they prioritize avoiding disaster over achieving excellence. That makes sense for casual use, but it’s a silent liability once you start working in professional environments.

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School portrait photographers are usually the joke of the photography industry, but did you know that many of them are profiting over a million dollars a year? Years ago, I tried to break into this industry, but it felt impossible. But now, after talking to Heather Crowder, it doesn't just seem possible, it seems easy.

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Photoshop can feel like a cockpit the first time you open it, and getting your bearings is the difference between guessing and getting real work done. If you edit regularly, knowing where tools live, how panels interact, and which defaults to change saves you hours you can spend making images instead of hunting menus.

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© Leica

 

Viltrox is the 10th and newest company to join the L-Mount Alliance since the public announcement of the L-Mount standard at photokina in 2018. The alliance consists of founding members Leica Camera AG, SIGMA, and Panasonic, as well as Ernst Leitz Wetzlar GmbH, DJI, ASTRODESIGN, SAMYANG Optics, Blackmagic Design and SIRUI. This collaboration enables Viltrox to develop products with the L-Mount which will present great benefits for a wide range of photo and video applications.

The L-Mount was developed by Leica Camera AG with the aim of providing customers with a futureproof, flexible, robust and precise bayonet mount that would fulfil even the most demanding photographic needs. Since its initial appearance, development of the L-Mount was continued by Leica as well as by its strategic partners. This led to significant improvements and an effectively new and more sophisticated L-Mount technology, resulting in a constantly growing portfolio of cameras and lenses from all existing and new alliance partners, currently comprising over 20 cameras and more than 120 lenses. All lenses made for the different systems within the L-Mount Alliance can be used on all cameras without adapters and without any functional limitations, illustrating one of the numerous benefits of the common bayonet.

Valentino Di Leonardo, Managing Expert Technology & Licensing at Leica Camera AG: “The L-Mount Alliance has been a key pillar of Leica Camera AG’s strategy from the beginning, standing for openness, innovation, and the highest standards in photography. With its bayonet system, it offers outstanding flexibility across a wide range of photographic and videographic applications. By welcoming Viltrox as a new member, we are strengthening our network with a highly regarded partner that shares our vision of a forward-looking and versatile system. Viltrox contributes valuable expertise in high-quality lens development and brings fresh momentum to our ecosystem. Together, we aim to offer photographers and filmmakers an even more comprehensive and flexible system that meets the most demanding requirements.”

DAI JINHUI (Daniel Dai), CEO at Viltrox: “Viltrox has joined the L-Mount Alliance, further expanding the system’s reach with high-quality, versatile, and accessible lenses. This collaboration complements Leica’s portfolio by inspiring a new generation of creators—from passionate enthusiasts to seasoned professionals—while reinforcing a dynamic and inclusive ecosystem alongside Alliance partners DJI, Panasonic, Blackmagic Design, and Sigma.”

 

About the L-Mount Alliance

The members of the L-Mount Alliance all utilise the L-Mount Standard developed by Leica Camera AG for mirrorless camera systems. Currently, the members of the Alliance are Leica Camera AG, SIGMA, Panasonic, Ernst Leitz Wetzlar GmbH, DJI, ASTRODESIGN, SAMYANG Optics, Blackmagic Design, SIRUI and Viltrox. The partners in the alliance utilise the L-Mount Standard for cameras and lenses that are offered under their own brand names. They market their respective products as competitors, and each with their own product and marketing strategies. The alliance works together on advancing the technology of the L-Mount Standard.

 

About the L-Mount Standard

To ensure maximum product diversity, the diameter of 51.6 millimetres was chosen to make the LMount suitable for use not only with full-frame cameras, but also on cameras with APSC sensors. The short register of only 20 millimetres enables a short distance between the lens and the sensor, which in turn allows for a considerably more compact construction – which is particularly helpful for developments in the wide-angle lens segment. To ensure resistance to even the most extreme conditions and guarantee maximum reliability for many years of intensive use, the camera bayonets are manufactured from wear-resistant stainless steel, with four flange segments that prevent canting and ensure a secure and precisely positioned lens attachment. The standardised L-Mount contact strip facilitates trouble-free communication between the electronic components of the lens and the camera – including the possibility of installing future firmware updates for lenses to react to technological advances and exploit their full performance potentials of the lenses. Further information can be found here.

 

About Viltrox

Viltrox, established in 2009, is a globally recognised leader in camera lenses and adapters, specialising in high-performance equipment for photography and cine. Its portfolio includes cinema and autofocus lenses - such as the LAB, Pro, and Air series launched since 2018 - along with monitors, adapters, and lighting solutions. Driven by innovation, the company expanded further into cine in 2022 with the "EPIC" anamorphic and "LUNA" zoom lenses, offering cost-effective solutions for filmmakers worldwide. Renowned for their exceptional optical quality, reliability, and accessible pricing, Viltrox products reflect a commitment to engineering excellence and user-centred design, empowering content creators across still and motion photography domains.

 

© Leica

 

About Leica Camera

Leica stands for craftsmanship, design and experience. With over 100 years of history, the brand represents a beautiful combination of art and engineering with the future of form and functionality. Based in Wetzlar, the original birthplace of Leica, the German company is an internationally operating, premium-segment manufacturer of cameras and sport optics products. Leica’s legendary status is founded on its long tradition of excellence and supreme quality found in their cameras and lenses. Leica are committed to supporting the creation and preservation of iconic photography, past, present and future and the artists behind them.

For more information about Leica, please visit their official website here.

Over the past decade, the number of self-proclaimed photography “educators” online has exploded. With a few clicks and a decent-looking website, anyone can market themselves as a teacher. Many photographers have turned to education as a side income, and some have built thriving communities and valuable programs. Others, however, are selling generic, recycled advice at premium prices without offering real expertise or ongoing support.

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Submit Your Most "Clever" Images!

Welcome to a new Critique The Community! September is usually a month for transition and we want to embrace change. For this month we want to see images that required you to think "outside the box" or use a clever approach that lead you to creating an interesting image.

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The Fujifilm GFX100 II isn’t a casual pick for portraits. It’s a 102-megapixel medium format body that gives you detail and tonal range most full frame systems can’t match.

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DxO PhotoLab has been the editing choice for many photographers since 2017, specializing in correcting optical defects in camera bodies and lenses. It has a large following, but Adobe, with Photoshop and Lightroom, has always been the 800-pound gorilla commanding much of the market.

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  If you're looking for a project that you can shoot over several weeks or even months have a go at creating a collection of images that all share the same colour.

As this is something that can take quite some time to do, it's something you can shoot alongside your other types of photography or you could try working on several different 'colour themes' all at once.

Your subjects don't have to be the same but it's important that the colour is, that way once you have a few images in your collection, you can begin to group them together to create panels and triptychs to hang on walls or post in online galleries.  

 

As you don't know what you'll be photographing until you see it, it's best to take a zoom lens out with you. By doing so you'll have various focal lengths to play with plus if you plan on walking for a while, you won't have lots of kit weighing you down.

You can sit and create a list of items organised into colour groups you can photograph or try visiting a location and wandering around to see which colour would be best to shoot in that particular place.

Do remember that the lack of other colours does mean you'll have to work harder to ensure your composition is interesting. That means you need to pay particular attention to textures, lines, shapes and framing.

     

You've read the technique now share your related photos for the chance to win prizes: Daily Forum Competition

The Meike 85mm f/1.8 Pro lens is aimed at giving you a reliable mid-telephoto option without forcing you into the higher prices of first-party glass. If you’re after sharp portraits, controlled depth of field, and a build that feels solid enough for daily use without breaking the bank, it's worth a look.

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The latest winner of our popular daily photography theme which takes place in our forums have been chosen and congratulations go to AndyPedant (Day 25 - Swimming).

 

Daily Theme Runners-Up

If you didn't win this time, keep uploading your images to the daily competition forum for another chance to win! If you're new to the Daily Theme, you can find out more about it in the Daily Theme Q&A. 

Well done to our latest runners-up, too, whose images you can take a look at below.

  Day 24

Environmental Portrait

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Day 26

Butterflies

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Day 27

Canals

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Day 28

Storms

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Day 29

'Circle' Theme

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Day 30

City Close-Ups

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Day 31

Villages

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You’ll find the Daily Themes, along with other great photo competitions, over in our Forum. Take a look to see the latest daily photo contests. Open to all levels of photographer, you’re sure to find a photography competition to enter. Why not share details of competitions with our community? Join the camaraderie and upload an image to our Gallery.