What Photography Asks of You
I've never been able to decide whether writing is more demanding than photography or the other way around. Every few years I convince myself I have the answer, and then something happens that proves me wrong.
Photographing the Perseid Meteor Shower: A Practical Guide
The Perseid meteor shower is often the most spectacular meteor shower in the Northern Hemisphere due to frequency as well as its appearance in summer. 2026 is special because the peak occurs during the darkest possible skies. Here's how to photograph it!
When Is the Best Time to Photograph the Meteor Shower?
This year, the Perseid meteor shower can be seen from July 17th, 2026 to August 24th, 2026. They should peak around just before midnight on August 12 until before dawn on August 13, 2026.
How to Stop Your Timer Remote From Dangling: Ruggard RTC-10 Review
If you shoot long exposures at night, you know the frustration — your intervalometer dangling from your camera, swinging in the breeze, pulling on the cable. Not good. The Ruggard RTC-10 Timer-Remote Case (Standard) fixes that with a padded holder that straps directly to your tripod leg. It works great, with one Velcro gripe we'll get to shortly.
The Lightroom Panel Most Landscape Shooters Underuse
Warm highlights, cool shadows, and a foreground green cast that has to go: this is the color puzzle behind most sunset landscapes. Getting those tones to feel intentional rather than accidental is the difference between a flat raw file and an image people stop scrolling to look at.
Can a Zoom Lens Match a Prime for Astrophotography?
A 12-20mm zoom at f/2.8 sits right in the sweet spot for astrophotography, wide enough to swallow the Milky Way and fast enough to pull in faint starlight. Most shooters reach for a prime when the sky gets dark, which makes a zoom that can keep pace worth a real look.
The Faintest Planet Ever Imaged From Earth Was Hiding in 11 Years of Old Photos
Astronomers have directly imaged the faintest exoplanet ever seen from Earth, a gas giant called Beta Pictoris d — and it turns out the planet had been sitting in telescope archives for more than 11 years before anyone managed to pull it out of the noise.
Would an Ansel Adams Photo Flop on Instagram Today?
Strip Ansel Adams of his name, his reputation, and his place in history, then hand him a fresh account with zero followers. How many likes does "Monolith, the Face of Half Dome" actually pull? That thought experiment cuts straight into how you judge your own images and whether follower counts have anything to do with artistic worth.
Three Camera Raw Features You Might Have Missed
Camera Raw quietly gained a set of tools that fix a problem you have probably fought with for years: masks that stop short of the leaves, the hair, or the edge where you actually need them. Two new sliders now let you push a mask outward or pull it back, and they work on the specific mask types you reach for most.
15 Essential Stone Circle Photography Tips
Always an interesting subject for photographers, standing stones and stone circles have fascinated people for centuries; but what is the best way to photograph them?
1. Lens Choice
Use a wider angle lens 16-20mm (about 24-30mm in 35mm terms)
Try isolating two or three of the stones and shoot from a low angle.
3. Get Up High
Find a vantage point at a distance where you can shoot the entire ring from a higher point to show its shape.
Shoot on a bright day for contrast and texture in the stones, but watch for shadows.
Shoot from a low viewpoint to make the stones appear large and dominating.
6. Go Mono
Try switching to black & white or shoot in infrared for a more moody result.
Use a polariser to darken the blue sky to give the shot more impact.
Bracket the exposure and merge using HDR technique rather than using a graduated filter as the filter will darken the top half of the stone.
Avoid shots with people if you don't want to date the photograph.
Include people if you want to show a sense of scale.
11. Look For Angles
Walk around a few times without taking pictures to get a feeling for the stones and the best angles.
Light is usually better at the start or towards the end of the day, however as fewer people prefer early starts, photographers tend to have to get up early if they want to capture people-free shots.
If you're trying to capture the whole circle, you'll need an interesting (large) sky to add balance to your shot as the foreground will appear to be long and thin.
Try shooting a panorama where you take a series of images that can be joined in post-production (or most cameras have this feature built-in) to capture the whole circle.
For inspiration and to find out the location of some of the most photogenic stone circles do you research before you leave your house. We have an article listing some of the most popular stone circles in the UK, you can read it here: Stone Circle Locations
You've read the technique now share your related photos for the chance to win prizes: Daily Forum Competition
Storm Chasers Are Flying Drones Straight Into Tornadoes, and the View Is Unreal
A small crew of storm chasers is doing something that sounds impossible: flying camera drones straight into active tornadoes. The OTUS Project — short for Observations of Tornadoes by UAV Systems — has now pulled off more than a dozen successful intercepts, and this June it live-streamed a drone punching into an EF3 for the first time.
What the Upcoming Copyright Office Fee Increase Means for Photographers
The U.S. Copyright Office has officially started the clock on a significant fee change that will impact how photographers protect their work. On July 14, 2026, the office submitted its final proposed fee schedule to Congress. This triggers a statutory 120-day review period, meaning that unless Congress intervenes, a new set of higher fees will automatically go into effect in mid-November 2026. For working pros and serious enthusiasts who regularly register their images, this policy update shifts the baseline economics of their practices.
Patreon Is Blocking AI Scrapers, but It's Already Too Late
Patreon just started actively blocking the AI bots that scrape creators' work to train models, and it's good to see a platform plant a flag on the creators' side. I just wouldn't mistake it for protection.
What Is Base ISO and Why Does It Gives the Cleanest Photos?
If you have spent any time reading about camera settings, you have heard the advice to keep your ISO as low as possible for the cleanest image. The lowest normal ISO setting your sensor is built around has a name: base ISO. Understanding what it is, and why files shot there look better than files shot anywhere else, is one of those small pieces of knowledge that quietly improves every photo you take. It explains why your daylight shots look so crisp, why your dim indoor shots get grainy, and when it is worth chasing the lowest number versus letting it climb.
Review of the ThinkTank Focuspoint 30L Backpack
For my photo tour in Iceland, I wanted to go lightweight. I had my eye on the new Think Tank FocusPoint 30L because it just looks great. Amazingly, my gear did fit in this compact photo backpack, and I took it with me to Iceland. Let me tell you about my experiences.
PolarPro’s Controversial Portra Film-Inspired Filter. What’s Going On?
About six months ago, PolarPro sent me their new Portra filter. On their website it states, "Inspired by the look and feel of Portra 400 film… the Portra Filter blends color tone, diffusion, and glare reduction into one optical filter for a finished look." Hmm, sorry, it looks nothing like Portra 400 film. And I hadn't even put the filter on my camera at this point. I simply looked at the sample photos on their website, and thought about all the photos I've shot on Portra film.
6 Ways To Challenge Yourself & Better Your Photography In The Process
If you're looking for a way to improve your photography skills then a challenge is probably right up your street. To give you some inspiration on how you can challenge yourself next time you're heading out with your camera here are 6 shooting suggestions that'll get your grey matter working a little harder:
1. Use One Lens /Focal LengthBasically, we want you to select one lens, yes just one, go for a walk, visit a museum etc. and see what images you can capture. Try to make it a lens you've not used for a while as this should make your work even harder.
A lens with a fixed focal length would be our choice for this but if you only have a zoom take that along and pick just one focal length to use. If you don't, it won't be much of a challenge!
Before you start snapping away you really need to think about what you're going to photograph because without a zoom your focal length is limited so rather than relying on the lens to do the work you have to get those grey cells warmed up and your feet moving to find a position/shot that works.
As memory cards are reasonably priced and can hold hundreds if not thousands of images, it's easy to just click the shutter button continuously and pick the best shots when you're back home. However, by taking just one shot of each subject you plan on photographing you'll have to really think about your composition, framing etc. as you don't have the option of having another shot to correct your mistakes with. If you find this too restricting try setting a shot limit before you head out of the door and make sure you stick to it. By doing so you should be able to improve the quality of the images you take as you'll be finding the best shots through planning and careful thought.
3. Photograph Just One Colour
Pick a colour, it can be any colour, and stick with it. It can be similar objects or totally different subjects, but their colour must link. You can write down a colour then make a note of possible subjects that fit the theme or just head out and search for potential subjects with your camera in-hand. The final results can give you a great set of images that you can also use in a panel for your wall.
4. Focus On One Subject
Instead of taking many photos of a variety of subjects why not spend a day, or longer if you wish, photographing just one subject. Take a tree, for example, you can photograph the whole thing, get in close with a macro lens, capture shots of leaves, stand further back with a wide-angle lens and capture it in its landscape etc. Visit your subject at different times of the year or at different times of the day and pay attention to how the light changes and when it's at its best. Venture out on foggy mornings, when the clouds are grey or when snow has covered the ground. You'll end up with lots of images and not all will be great but there will be some gems and they could be from ways you've not considered photographing a particular subject before.
5. Get Out Of Your Comfort ZoneIt's easy to stick with the familiar but by getting away from what you're used to, you'll discover new things and improve as a photographer in the process. So, if you tend to shoot landscapes, why not try photographing portraits instead? You'll be shooting with different settings, lenses and in different ways, learning as you go and expanding your creativity. You'll pick up new tips and more than likely learn more about the settings/options your camera has to offer, too.
6. Enter A Photography Competition
If you're out taking photos that are specifically for a competition you'll probably think that bit longer about composition, lighting etc.to improve your chances of getting your hands on the top prize. It's also a good way to find new subject inspiration for your shots as a vast number of themes are used in competitions right across the web as well as in magazines.
You've read the technique now share your related photos for the chance to win prizes: Daily Forum Competition
Inside the Unbelievable 50-Minute Single Take That Made "Adolescence"
"Adolescence" pulled off something most productions only pretend to do: four episodes, each filmed as a single continuous take, no stitched cuts hiding in the shadows. The internet split over whether the show cheated, and the answer sits right in the gear the crew chose to carry.
Samsung Introduces New 990 SSD with Powerful Performance and Improved Power Efficiency
The Samsung 990 SSD delivers robust performance with a sequential read speed of up to 7,250 MB/s and 38% improved power efficiency over its predecessor
The 1TB and 2TB options widen PC upgrade choices for consumers ranging from everyday use to gaming and content creation
Samsung Electronics announced the launch of its new 990 SSD, available in 1-terabyte (TB) and 2TB capacities. Delivering exceptional sequential performance and enhanced power efficiency, the Samsung 990 SSD is designed as a balanced storage solution optimized for gaming, creative workloads, and daily PC use.
"Samsung’s new 990 SSD is an excellent solution for a wide range of users looking to expand their storage for heavy workloads, immersive gaming, high-resolution content creation, and DIY PC builds," said Tommy (Hyoungsuk) Kwon, Vice President of Memory Brand Product Biz Team at Samsung Electronics.
Thanks to PCIe 4.0 support and the latest NAND technologies, the Samsung 990 SSD 2TB model delivers a sequential read speed of up to 7,250 megabytes per second (MB/s), while the 1TB model reaches up to 7,150 MB/s. Both models provide sequential write speeds of up to 6,450 MB/s, enabling fast file transfers and reduced loading times.
For random performance, the 2TB model delivers up to 850K read and 1,200K write IOPS, while the 1TB model reaches read and write speeds of up to 700K and 1,100K IOPS, respectively. These capabilities help users experience faster application launches, responsive gameplay, and efficient handling of large-scale workloads.
The expanded storage capacity also allows users to store large amounts of high-quality content and the latest AAA games. The 2TB model can store up to 30 large-scale games based on an average size of 64GB1, making it an ideal solution for gamers and creators managing increasingly sizable files and applications.
The Samsung 990 SSD has also achieved significant improvements in power efficiency. Compared to its previous 990 PRO model, the power efficiency has improved by up to 38%2, allowing users achieve high performance with lower power consumption.
The Samsung Magician Software helps ensure SSDs—including the Samsung 990—maintain optimal performance. It supports seamless data migration and drive health monitoring, enabling users to benefit from customized performance optimization and robust data protection.
The Samsung 990 SSD will be available in 1TB and 2TB models from July 14, 2026, with an MSRP of £212.19 and £411.99, respectively. Availability may vary by market.
Samsung 990 SSD Interface PCIe® 4.0 x4 NVMe™ 2.03 Form Factor M.2 (2280) Storage Memory Samsung V-NAND Controller Samsung in-house Controller Capacity4 1TB 2TB Sequential Read/Write Speed5 Up to 7,150 MB/s, 6,450 MB/s Up to 7,250 MB/s, 6,450 MB/s Random Read/Write Speed (QD32) Up to 700K IOPS, 1,100K IOPS Up to 850K IOPS, 1,200K IOPS Management Software Samsung Magician Software Data Encryption AES 256-bit Full Disk Encryption, TCG/Opal V2.0, Encrypted Drive (IEEE1667)- Total Bytes Written 400TB 800TB Warranty Three-year Limited Warranty6
1 Based on an average game size of 64.3GB – calculated using the top 12 titles from Steam’s “Best of 2025: New Releases” list https://store.steampowered.com/charts/bestofyear/2025
2 SSD 990 sequential read/write 1,686/1,697 MB/s per Watt, 990 PRO sequential read/write 1,221/1,255 MB/s per Watt based on the internal test result of the 2TB capacity model.
3 The NVM Express® design mark is a registered trademark of NVM Express, Inc.
4 1GB = 1,000,000,000 bytes by IDEMA. A certain portion of capacity may be used for system file and maintenance use, thus the actual available capacity may differ from the labeled capacity.
5 Sequential and random performance are based on 1Ometer1.1.0 Performance may vary based on SSD's firmware version, system hardware & configurations. Test System: AMD Ryzen 9 7650X 16-Core Processor CPU@4.50GHz, DDR5 4800MHz (16GBx2), OS-Windows 11 Pro 64bit, ChipsetASRock-X670E-Taichi. Sequential and random write performance was measured with Intelligent TurboWrite technology being activated. Intelligent TurboWrite operates only within a specific data transfer size. For detailed information, please contact your local service center.
6 Samsung Electronics shall not be liable for any loss, including but not limited to loss of data or other information contained on Samsung's products or loss of profit or revenue which may be incurred by the user. Warranty provides coverage for the stated time period or the TBW (Total Bytes Written), whichever comes first. Please refer to the detailed warranty statement here at http://www.samsung.com/samsungssd
For more information, please visit the Samsung UK website.
Nikon's 35mm f/1.4 vs. the 35mm f/1.8 S: Which One Wins?
Nikon sells three different 35mm prime lenses for the Z mount, and picking between them comes down to details that specs alone won't reveal. The gap between the Nikon 35mm f/1.4 and the Nikon 35mm f/1.8 S is smaller than the labels suggest.
How Classic Movies Faked Their Biggest Stunts
Movie stunts that look impossible almost always come down to a physical problem someone had to solve, whether that meant building a 330 ft miniature bridge or strapping an actor to a helicopter at 75 mph.