Photography News

Photos (top and right) by David Clapp - www.davidclapp.co.uk

Even though panoramas, like the one above, are great, there are a few ways you can get more creative with them. Here we have five ideas for shooting creative panoramas but if you have any more, please feel free to add them in the comments.

 

People Panoramas

If you're out with a group of friends or at a social gathering, a panorama is an interesting way of capturing a group portrait. Whether it be at a picnic, or just a get together at someone's house, a panorama is a unique way to include everyone in a photo with ease. Try using different poses and expressions to create a shot which is more dynamic and fun. Many cameras now have panorama modes built in where you often have to just hold the shutter button while panning the camera around to take your shot, making it easier to produce good panoramas. Plus, small compacts can be slipped into pockets and bags, meaning they won't take up too much room when you're out.

 

Vertical Panoramas

Vertical panoramas can be used to give vertical objects more presence. They are great for when you're capturing tall trees and buildings, as they give you a real sense of height and grandeur. It is also ideal for capturing waterfalls, wind turbines and windmills. For more tips on shooting vertical panoramas, have a look at this article: Basic Tips On Shooting Vertical Panoramas

  360 Degree Panoramas

For something more quirky, try shooting a 360-degree panorama. You can buy gadgets that do this or some cameras have 360°/180° panorama modes built in. Don't worry if your camera doesn't have a 360-degree panorama setting, as you can stitch several panoramas together to create a similar look. Take a look at our stitching tutorial for more information.
 

Seasonal Panoramas

These work really well in woodland where the changing of the seasons is really visible. Try taking four different panoramas: one in the summer, autumn, winter and spring, in the same location. It will take you a year to get all your images, but once you have them, you will be able to combine them to create a really stunning image showing the changing of the seasons that will be fit for any wall.

  'Following An Object' Panorama

This works really well with a pet or motor vehicle. Take snaps of the animal or object as it moves, preferably running for the animal. This can be achieved really easily by setting your camera to continuous shooting mode. Then just combine your results.

  

The first time the R7 choked on a third-and-short, I felt it in my chest. I was on the sideline, ten yards ahead of the play, finger down, trusting the tiny motor under my thumb to keep up with a world that had just gone from strolling to sprinting. Five… six… seven frames in and the picture flow hiccupped—the stream turned to a stutter—and my running back chose that half-second to change direction and break a tackle. I have a folder full of the prelude and not the punchline. With my old 6D, the pace was honest and simple: a handful of frames per second and an optical viewfinder that never lied. The R7 is a hummingbird by comparison—faster, sharper, with extra reach that feels like cheating—until it teaches you that speed without rhythm is just noise.

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Introducing the Osmo Mobile 8, the latest addition to DJI’s mobile gimbal series, designed to expand creative possibilities for smartphone filmmakers. Designed to support a wider range of filming scenarios, the Osmo Mobile 8 introduces 360 ° Pan Rotation for smooth panoramic shots, an ultra-comfortable grip for low-angle filming, and—for the first time—intelligent tracking of cats and dogs.

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© Affinity

 

Canva has announced that its UK-based professional creative suite, Affinity, has surpassed one million sign-ups in under a week, following its landmark move to make the software completely free — forever.

The milestone marks the beginning of Affinity’s new era, unveiled through a month-long build of anticipation, a bold new visual identity, and a multi-asset brand campaign led by Tom Carey, Canva’s Europe Creative Director. The integrated launch signals a major shift for professional design: one defined by openness, accessibility, and creative freedom for all.

 

Building the anticipation: a community-led unveiling

In the weeks leading up to launch, Affinity took a distinctly community-led approach – listening, engaging, and co-creating with its global network of designers. What began in early October as a quiet “creative whisper” grew into a groundswell of excitement, as subtle hints and behind-the-scenes moments appeared across social channels and design communities.

Working closely with the Designer Advisory Board (DAB) and Pro Panel, the team invited early reactions, responded to feedback in real time, and built anticipation organically – not through ads, but through real time conversation.

That shared momentum reached its peak when the news dropped as part of Canva’s World Tour keynote: Affinity was going free forever. The reveal ignited a wave of support from professional creatives around the world – a community united by craft, collaboration, and a belief that creative tools should be open to everyone.

 

A new campaign for creative freedom

The campaign celebrates a new creative era: one where tools are open, collaboration is celebrated, and design is accessible to everyone. Crafted in collaboration with ManvsMachine, the campaign video is a rallying cry for creative liberation. Reminding designers of a time when they created for fun and for love, not confined by their tools, but empowered by them.

The campaign, inspiring designers to craft, experiment and create their way, runs globally across YouTube and Meta until December 14. It aims to raise awareness of Affinity among professional designers and share our message that true creative freedom is now free, forever.

 

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"Designing a brand for designers isn’t easy, but by bringing together an incredible team of creatives and working closely with the community, we set out to craft an identity that was truly for creatives, by creatives.

That collaboration is what makes this launch feel so special. The reaction from the community has been incredible, calling the brand bold.af and relatable.af. And with over a million people signing up in less than a week, it proves that when you design with your community, for your community, it becomes something people genuinely want to be part of." Tom Carey, Europe Creative Director, Canva said.

 

© Affinity

 

Rebranding for a new era

As part of the new Affinity product launch, Canva has unveiled a complete rebrand for the professional creative suite, signalling a new era for the product and the community behind it. Crafted in Affinity and scaled in Canva, the refreshed identity moves away from the angular and geometric shapes of the past and into something more expressive, human and proudly bold.

Developed by Canva and Affinity’s in-house creative teams, in close collaboration with design studio Twist, and guided by Canva’s Designer Advisory Board and Pro Panel — the reimagined Affinity brand celebrates creative freedom. From Rob Clarke’s handcrafted logomark to James Martin’s playful graphic assets and the distinctive “.af” file extension, every detail embodies its ethos: for creatives, by creatives.

The new look blends craft with character: an expressive typeface by Ohno Type, playful ethos badges by James Martin, and an artist palette of neutral tones, charcoal, graphite, putty, and paper, that lets the vibrant work of our community take centre stage. Punctuated by a sharp hit of lime green as a nod to the “punk” energy driving the change. Together, these choices bring the brand’s attitude to life: serious about craft, but unafraid to have fun with it.

The rebrand evolves Affinity from “looking punk” to “feeling punk” – a bold yet thoughtful redesign that balances design heritage with a modern sense of play. It’s a brand that celebrates collaboration, craft, and the creative process itself: raw, joyful, and full of heart.

 

A movement reshaping the creative industry

Since announcing Affinity’s new chapter last week, the response has been extraordinary. Over one million creatives worldwide — from designers and illustrators to photographers and students — have joined the platform, redefining what access to professional tools should look like.

Making Affinity free is a continuation of Canva’s founding belief that great design should be accessible to everyone. It’s made possible by Canva’s sustainable business model — one built on offering powerful creative tools for free, while optional paid features like premium content, collaboration, and AI tools fund continued innovation. This approach has powered Canva’s growth for more than a decade and now enables Affinity to remain free, forever — while continuing to evolve for the world’s most ambitious creators.

For more information, please visit the Affinity website.

A 180mm macro that reaches 1.5x and flips between manual focus up close and autofocus at distance solves real problems. You get working room for skittish subjects and the reach to turn everyday scenes into tight, dramatic frames.

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Camera bags; they're all the same, right? Well, Tenba may have changed the game by making the world's toughest soft camera bag.

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Leica has announced its new camera model for the Reporter series: the Leica SL3 Reporter. With its robust design, it features a scratch-resistant dark green finish and an aramid fabric cover that protects against wear and exposure. Its textured trim improves grip and stability, making it easier to handle during long shoots or in challenging conditions.

The SL3 Reporter shares the same technical specifications as the standard SL3, including high-resolution imaging and precise autofocus. What sets it apart is its design focus on durability and discretion, with black control elements and no red Leica logo. This makes it a practical choice for photographers working in the field, where reliability and low visibility matter.

The Leica SL3 Reporter is priced at £6,200.00 / €7,200.00 including VAT and is available from the Leica online stores and authorized retailers. 

 

 

From Leica

Leica Camera AG is pleased to announce the launch of the Leica SL3 Reporter, a new addition to the company’s Reporter design series. This particularly robust version of the Leica SL3 represents the latest in a long line of specially developed Leica cameras. The Leica SL3 Reporter is equipped with features that have been specifically designed for the harsh conditions of reportage and press photography, which enables maximum precision even under the most adverse shooting conditions. The result combines maximum functionality and reliability with a unique camera design that is both understated and striking.

The Leica SL3 Reporter features a particularly scratch-resistant dark green finish and an aramid fabric cover, which provide additional protection for the robust camera body against abrasion and environmental influences. Furthermore, the special trim, with its unique texture, also offers significantly improved grip, thus ensuring enhanced stability when taking photographs and filming. Over time, the trim develops a unique patina that reflects the traces of its photographic journey and the character of a true reportage camera. The distinctive design is characterised by a combination of dark green paintwork with black control elements, and the absence of the red Leica logo, which serves to emphasise the SL3 Reporter’s suitability for challenging working environments.

In terms of its technical specifications, the design variant corresponds to the Leica SL3 series model. This model combines state-of-the-art technology with outstanding image quality of up to 60 megapixels, precise autofocus, the best materials and ‘Made in Germany’ manufacturing quality. This product is robust, reliable and is perfect for all your photography and videography needs. It is also very easy to use with a fast connection to the Leica FOTOS App to facilitate a seamless professional workflow.

For more information, please visit the Leica website.

There's a 10-year-old Canon PowerShot in your parents' junk drawer. It was once a $300 piece of high technology, a marvel of miniaturized optics and digital sensors that could fit in a shirt pocket. Today, the phone in your hand takes better photos in worse lighting without you thinking about it. This is the story of how the smartphone killed the most popular camera on Earth.

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Canon put 7K open gate raw, 4K at 120p without a crop, and dual-base ISO into the EOS C50, a compact cinema body that’s meant to work fast. If you balance scripted projects with social deliverables or need clean high frame rates without changing your lens plan, this release is worth a look.

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The Fujifilm X-E5 looks like a fantastic option on paper, essentially being a Fujifilm X100VI with interchangeable lenses. Sadly, my initial experience with the Fujifilm X-E5 left me confused by some of their design choices.

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This affordable 85mm portrait prime changes your options with a compact build, a bright f/2 aperture, and performance that holds up on high-resolution bodies. If you photograph people or detail-rich scenes, the mix of sharpness, subject separation, and modern autofocus gives you a practical tool without the premium price tag.

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Burnout shows up quietly and then sticks around. It blunts creative drive and drags down the workday long before you notice the slide.

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Portkeys has introduced the LH5C, a compact 5.4-inch on-camera monitor with HDMI input/output and wired camera control. The monitor runs the company’s MOVNORM OS and includes a full set of monitoring tools aimed at solo operators and small crews, costing just $199.

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Canon has introduced the EOS R6 Mark III, a 32.5-megapixel full frame mirrorless body aimed at hybrid shooters who split their time between stills and video. It brings a new sensor, faster burst rates with a pre-capture mode, and a broader video feature set, including 7K raw options and 4K at up to 119.9p. It sits in the same do-everything slot as previous 6-series models, but with more headroom for advanced work.

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Canon has introduced the Canon RF 45mm f/1.2 STM, a standard-view prime built for its RF mount cameras. The lens aims to deliver fast-aperture performance in a smaller package than typical f/1.2 options, targeting everyday stills and video work on both full frame and APS-C RF bodies.

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We all aspire to get the correct colour rendition and it is very important, especially with shooting JPEGs, but sometimes it is really fun to shoot with the wrong preset and get weird colours. If you shoot Raw, you can do this afterwards on the computer. 

 

Gear Suggestions:

A camera where you can adjust the white balance makes life easier. This could be a DSLR or compact which has various white balance settings, including custom white balance if none of the presets give you the look you're after.

Once you've found the camera's white-balance control, take a look at your manual if you're unsure where the white balance options are, do try the various settings on offer as each one will give a slightly different look to your image. Most cameras have the following white balance settings: auto, cloudy, daylight, incandescent, fluorescent and flash.

 

Technique:

Much of this is you playing with the various presets – or in Photoshop afterwards.

One of the most obvious is shooting with the incandescent setting in daylight to give blue-coloured images. In film days, fashion pros used to use tungsten-balanced colour film in daylight. With digital, you can try this without risking anything and if the effect looks wrong, switch back to auto white-balance and try something else.

Most cameras have the option of using Kelvin. You could set a low value and shoot in normal daylight. The effect can be very pronounced and will enhance the mood of suitable scenes. There is no right or wrong when it comes to experimenting.

 

Photo by Peter Bargh, edited in Lightroom.

 

Play with RAW files on your PC

If you have Raw files, you can play with white balance without leaving the computer. Just put the file through the Raw converter again and try a different preset. It is simple to do and because it is Raw processing is non-destructive so you can always go back to the original colour images.

It is worth saying that if you play with white balance in-camera and are shooting JPEGs, the result is more or less what you are stuck with and there is only a limited amount that you can salvage afterwards.

Film is having another moment. Thrift stores are lighter on old SLRs than they used to be; teenagers are loading rolls their grandparents forgot about; family closets keep surrendering shoeboxes that smell like basements, cedar, and Kodachrome. If you want those images to live again—on phones, on walls, in books—you don’t need a museum-grade scanner or a lab behind a glass wall. You need a steady hand, a repeatable rhythm, and a machine that shows up every time. For me, that’s the Epson Perfection V600 Photo Scanner.

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Here is how to load RED LUTs into your Nikon ZR.

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Photography has been revolutionized not just by cameras, but by the glass in front of them. While cameras capture the image, it's the lens that creates it: shaping light, defining character, and determining what's even possible to photograph. These five lenses didn't just improve image quality; they fundamentally transformed what photographers could do, how they could do it, and who could afford to do it.

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City photos either look flat or they pull you in. Light, timing, and intent change how a familiar street reads when you want images that stand out in a feed stuffed with near-duplicates.

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