Educational

PetaPixel's editorials are in-depth stories, thought-pieces, and opinions on the photography industry led by the minds of our editorial team.
A man wearing glasses and a headlamp looks upward while holding a camera mounted on a tripod against a cloudy sky background.

I Tried a Starlapse (and Learned a Lot)

Ever since capturing my solar eclipse timelapse, I’ve wanted to explore and refine the technique. There were quite a few takeaways from that previous project in terms of settings and best practices, so I’m carrying those lessons into this next one.

A triptych showing a wooden cabin by a reflective lake, a sunlit rock formation in a canyon, and trees reflected in misty water.

How Photographers Can Turn ‘Bad’ Weather Into Better Landscape Images

After more than 20 years photographing landscapes in changing conditions, I've learned that the goal isn't to wait for perfect weather, but to understand what each type of weather can offer and be prepared to make the most of it. This guide covers how to harness those conditions with the right techniques, settings, and tools to turn unpredictable weather into powerful compositions.

Colorful fireworks burst over a city skyline at night, reflecting on the water below. Bright city lights illuminate the buildings, creating a festive and vibrant atmosphere.

5 Easy Ways to Capture Creative Fireworks Photos

Photographing fireworks offers a unique opportunity to experiment with light, color, and motion. While the classic long-exposure image is always a favorite, there’s a lot more you can do in-camera and in post to elevate your results. Here are five easy, fun techniques to help you capture more dynamic, creative fireworks photos.

A bearded man wearing sunglasses stands outdoors among trees with sunlight streaming through leaves. Bold yellow text reads: "Linear Camera Profile MADE CINEMATIC.

How to Leverage Linear Camera Profiles in Your Editing Workflow

Linear Camera Profiles are one of those things that have been floating around the Lightroom community forever, but only a few people seem to use them. And while there are a lot of video tutorials on how to make a linear camera profile for your camera, there is almost nothing on how to use them in your editing workflow.

Snow-covered trees and a frosty landscape are reflected in a calm, clear lake, with a tall, snow-capped mountain in the background under a bright blue sky.

Photographers Need to Stop Worshiping Dynamic Range

Photography has always had a weakness for metrics, but dynamic range has taken on a peculiar authority in the digital era. It is treated not just as a specification, but as a verdict. Cameras are ranked, dismissed, or praised based on differences of less than a stop, as if such a number alone could determine the quality of an image.