ePHOTOzine Daily Theme Winners Week 2 April 2026
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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 James124 (Day 16- Bridges).
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 9Stone Circles
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Day 10
Woodland
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Day 11
Creative Flare
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Day 12
Full-Length Portraits
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Day 13Stained Glass Windows
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Day 14
Garden Landscapes
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Day 15
Flowers
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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.
AI Branding Tool ZAWA Tested
When it comes to branding, there are a number of elements that need to be considered. It needs to speak about your business while also evoking something in the viewer. It doesn't necessarily need to clearly explain what you do.
Take Apple, for example. It's an apple, yet they don't sell apples. McDonald's is represented by the golden arches, but they sell burgers and fries. MKBHD is a tech reviewer, but the brand itself says nothing about tech.
So what is it that actually works when it comes to a brand? It's something I've been asking myself for a while.
Ulanzi D200X and Dial Review: Can They Improve Your Editing Workflow?
Most editing tools promise to speed up your workflow. Very few actually change how you work. After testing the Ulanzi D200X and Dial in real-world use, I wanted to see if either could genuinely reduce time at the desk or if they just add another layer to the process.
As a photographer and videographer, I spend more time at my desk than I would like to admit. A large part of running a photography business happens away from the camera. Editing, file management, emails, and planning all take time, so having a setup that supports workflow, efficiency, and comfort matters.
The 'Monster House' Effect: How to Find Narrative in Ordinary Ruins
There's a stretch of Highway 69 outside Muskogee that I've driven enough times to stop noticing it. You know the kind of road I mean — your brain goes into cruise control, the scenery becomes background noise, and you're just trying to get where you're going without getting stuck behind a log truck doing 42 in a 65.
And then one day, something snaps you out of it.
The Practical Effects Behind Labyrinth, Aliens, Die Hard, and Titanic Are More Insane Than You Think
Practical effects from the '80s and '90s were built on real constraints, and those constraints forced some of the most inventive filmmaking ever put on screen. The results hold up decades later precisely because the crews had no easy way out.
The Canon EOS R6 Mark III vs. Sony a7 V: Real-World Performance Tested Side by Side
Choosing between the Canon EOS R6 Mark III and the Sony a7 V at the same price point is genuinely difficult, and the spec sheets don't tell the whole story. Both cameras launched within a month of each other in late 2025, making a direct comparison not just useful but necessary before you hand over that kind of money.
This Photographer Says The Fujifilm X100VI Is Too Cheap
Compact cameras have exploded in popularity over the past few years, and the Fujifilm X100VI sits at the center of that conversation. It's one of the most talked-about point-and-shoots on the market right now, and the hype has pushed used prices close to retail.
Full Frame vs. APS-C: The Size Advantage Isn't What You Think
The full frame vs. APS-C debate has been running for years, and most people land in the same place: full frame is better, APS-C is smaller, end of story. But that conclusion skips over some real nuance that changes how you should think about both systems.
Photographing a Fashion Campaign at Sarakineco Beach
I just wrapped up a fashion campaign shoot at Sarakiniko Beach in Milos, Greece. Here is how it went, what I learned from the experience, and how we approached getting the shots.
Discover Leica’s New Flagship Store in Chicago and the Limited Edition M11-P Chicago Edition 17
The world's most renowned and respected camera brand, Leica, has announced a new flagship store in Chicago, Illinois, opening on April 30, 2026. Located in Chicago's Gold Coast, one of the city's most culturally rich architectural districts, the new store draws on the city's creative spirit, offering photographers a dynamic space with rotating gallery exhibitions, workshops through the Leica Akademie, connections with fellow photographers, and Leica's latest innovations in technology. The Michigan Ave.
3 Quick Top Tips On Why You Should Use People In Your Landscapes
2. Create A Connection
An empty shot of a forest or a mountainous landscape may be inspiring and pleasant to look at but if you add people to the shot the viewer can become more connected with the image as the person/people can help create more of a story. A sunset shot with a couple sat to one side of it will feel romantic while a rock climber scaling a cliff wall that's sat in your wide, landscape shot will create a totally different feeling.
People can also help create a sense of scale within an image, for example, a backdrop of mountains suddenly turn into dominating structures that tower above two walkers or a lake stretches out for miles past a single man out fishing for the day.
You've read the technique now share your related photos for the chance to win prizes: Daily Forum Competition
Westcott Launches the S18 Mini Flash
Westcott has introduced the S18 Mini Flash, a compact and accessible flash for shooters at every level. Weighing just 100 grams, it packs 18Ws of output, a tilting head for bounce flash, and a built-in USB-C rechargeable battery into a pocket-sized package. Small enough to fit in your pocket but powerful enough to get the shot, the S18 is built for photographers who want better light without the hassle.
From Lumesca Group:
Westcott, a leading manufacturer of professional photography lighting equipment, announced the launch of the S18 Mini Flash, a compact flash designed to give photographers of all skill levels a simple, affordable way to take better photos when natural light isn’t enough.
The S18 combines a tilting flash head, 19-step manual power control, and a built-in USB-C rechargeable battery into a package that weighs just 100 g and measures 2.4 x 2.1 x 0.9 inches.
The S18 is designed to remove every barrier that keeps photographers from trying flash for the first time. The price, the size, the simplicity — all of it is intentional. We wanted to create something that delivers real results from the very first shot. – Brandon Heiss, President of Westcott
More Light Where You Need It
The S18 delivers 18Ws of flash output with a Guide Number of 16 (ISO 100), producing significantly more light than the built-in flash found on most cameras. Paired with a native sync speed of 1/250s and recycle times ranging from 0.01 to 2.5 seconds, the S18 is ready for indoor portraits, street photography, events, and low-light scenes where available light falls short.
Bounce Flash or Direct Flash
The S18’s tilting flash head adjusts from -3° to 72°, giving photographers the option to bounce light off ceilings and walls for softer, more flattering results rather than pointing the flash directly at a subject. Multiple optical slave modes support multi-flash configurations for photographers ready to explore more advanced setups.
Built-In Battery with USB-C Charging
The S18 features an internal 3.7V 1250mAh lithium battery that delivers up to 500 full-power flashes per charge and recharges via USB-C in approximately 2.5 hours. The S18 also supports charging while in use, eliminating the need for disposable batteries and keeping photographers shooting through long events and sessions.
Easy to Control
Simple onboard manual controls and a clear display screen provide quick access to all flash settings. Power adjusts across 19 steps in a 7-stop range (3.0–9.0) with 0.3-stop increments, making it straightforward for beginners to learn flash fundamentals while giving more experienced photographers the precision they expect.
Ready to Shoot, Right Out of the BoxThe S18 mounts to most Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, Panasonic Lumix, Olympus, and Leica cameras via a universal single-pin hot shoe. The kit includes five colour gels (Diffusion, CTO, 1/2-CTO, Yellow, and Red), a travel case, and a USB charging cable.
Availability
The Westcott S18 Mini Flash is available through authorised Westcott retailers and at fjwestcott.com.
The Concept Comes First: Building a Photograph From an Idea, Not a Scene
Most photographers start with a subject or theme. Conceptual photographers start with a question. What does isolation feel like? Not, where can I shoot next? Entering the world of conceptual photography is a beast of its own. It comes with its own challenges and rewards. My biggest question was, how do I start?
We Review the Huawei Mate 80 Pro in Search of a True-to-Color Smartphone Camera System
From the naming convention, the Mate series flagship smartphone has always been Huawei's way of showing off what they can really do, and it has been three years since Huawei launched the Mate series globally. This time around with the Huawei Mate 80 Pro, everything revolves around a rather bold slogan: "See It True."
"Fix It in Post" Is Costing You Money: A Mathematical Case for Getting It Right in Camera
You are standing on location. The light is good, the client looks great, and you are in the zone. Then you notice it: an orange traffic cone lurking at the edge of the frame. Your assistant is nowhere to be found. The client is already in position. You could pause everything, walk over, and drag the cone out of shot. Or you could keep the momentum going and mutter those five dangerous words to yourself: "I'll fix it in post."
The Proper Camera Settings for Travel and Street Photography
Shooting in the wrong exposure mode or using the wrong autofocus setup can cost you the shot. For travel and street work especially, your camera settings aren't just technical preferences; they shape what's even possible in the moment.
Photoshop 2026's Dehaze Tool Is More Powerful Than You Think
Photoshop 2026 added a Clarity and Dehaze adjustment layer, and if you shoot landscapes or anything with atmospheric haze, it's worth knowing how to use it properly. The catch is that throwing dehaze on an entire image can look heavy-handed, so selecting only the hazy area before applying it makes a real difference.
Is the Fujifilm XF 23mm f/2.8 R WR Worth It on a 40-Megapixel Sensor?
The Fujifilm XF 23mm f/2.8 R WR is one of those lenses that looks almost too small to take seriously. But if you're shooting on a Fujifilm X-series body, especially one with a demanding 40-megapixel sensor, "small" doesn't have to mean "compromised."
Why Time Is a Landscape Photographer's Most Valuable Asset
Time might be the one thing standing between you and your best landscape images. Not gear, not skill, not vision: just the raw, uncontrollable factor of being somewhere when the light, weather, and landscape align in a way that only happens a handful of times a year.
Canon RF 28-70mm f/2 vs. RF 24-105mm f/2.8: Which Pro Zoom Wins?
I have now tried both the Canon 28-70mm f/2 lens and the Canon 24-105mm f/2.8 to see which is better and where I would recommend each of these lenses. I'm just trying to answer the question of which one is right for me, and hopefully in doing so I'm able to also help you identify which one might be right for you.
