The flagship Leica M11 rangefinder launched earlier this year boasting a host of upgrades, most notably, a higher-resolution sensor and a more powerful processor. And yet, the camera sports the same basic design as its ancestors, dating back to the 1950s. But it’s precisely this combination of new and old that makes a Leica, well, a Leica.

We’ve had the pleasure of shooting around with the new camera for a little while now. And with a complete review on the horizon, we wanted to share some initial samples and impressions to get you pumped. All of these photos were captured with the Leica Summicron-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH lens. Exposure information and edits are noted in the captions.

Related: Leica redesigns one of its most popular lenses (and makes it more affordable)

Leica M11 sample photos

With its state-of-the-art, custom-made 60-megapixel sensor and updated “Maestro III” image processor, one has high expectations about the M11’s image quality, and gosh does it deliver. From color to sharpness (due mainly to the quality of Leica’s lenses) to dynamic range, the M11 does not disappoint.

Many cameras don’t capture the color of amazing sunsets like this one, usually being too flat. (Smartphones, on the other hand, are over-the-top.) Here, the exposure is well-balanced. And if you want to brighten up the foreground a bit, the M11 is fully capable.

It may look like the foreground couldn’t possibly be so lush and green but that’s how the M11 rendered it in this converted DNG file (with no color adjustments applied). If for some reason, you wanted this scene to be even punchier, there’s a “vivid” color profile in the menu. The detail on the mountain is also impressive: you can easily make out the edge of the glaciers.

Again you can see the vibrant color in the flowers and foliage, this time in an out-of-camera JPEG.

Details, details. At full resolution, you can see the individual cables on the elevator as well as every piece of the platform at the top of the Needle. There isn’t any moiré on the platform, which is nice to see, given that the camera doesn’t have an “optical low pass filter.”

The Summicron-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH lens has quite a bit of vignetting when wide-open (or close, in this case). While the camera doesn’t offer the ability to correct this automatically, popping the DNG file into your favorite Raw processor will allow you to reduce or eliminate it.

In this photo, there’s a balanced exposure with no blown highlights from the windows. Note the lack of distortion, as well.

Color again impresses, and there’s a nice smooth transition from the sharp foreground to the blurred background.

You can easily make out individual pieces of grass on this somewhat hazy day.

The original image was a little “warm” and the foreground was darker than I would’ve liked. But two easy adjustments to the DNG file in Adobe Camera Raw produced a more realistic image.

The M11 again captured the reds, oranges, and yellows of a beautiful sunset.

The Summicron-M 35mm f/1.4 lens struts its stuff in this photo, with excellent sharpness on the lamp and a smooth roll off to the wall and sign in the background.

It’s easy to find the peeling and bubbling paint in the foreground of this photo.

The original version of this photo had some mild vignetting, which was easy to fix in Adobe Camera Raw. You can see each individual leave on the shrubs both near and far away.

In the original version of this photo, the highlights on the mountain were blown out, dramatically reducing detail. By editing the DNG file I was able to dial back the highlights while boosting the shadows to closely match what I saw with my eyes.

Lastly, the carvings on and above the arch look almost too real in this photo. While it looks like there is some moiré distortion to the left of the doors, it is just the pattern in the concrete.

That’s all for now, stay tuned for our full Leica M11 review, coming soon!

The post Leica M11 sample photos: 60 megapixels sure looks good appeared first on Popular Photography.

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What’s better than funny pet photos? How about an entire photo contest dedicated to our comical companions? Well, the Comedy Pet Photography Awards are back with a fresh set of winners for 2022. And the photos do not disappoint. From sassy alpaca to spastic pups, this gallery has no shortage of personalities.

About the Comedy Pet Photography Awards

The Comedy Pet Photography Awards are a UK-based competition, open to all. Founded in 2020, the competition’s mission is to, “promote positive awareness of animal welfare issues and celebrate the incredible and valuable contribution that pets can and do have on our lives.” And each year, they donate a sizable chunk of cash to one or more pet rescue charities.

Related: A selection of the year’s best nature photos

The overall winner of this year’s competition, Kenichi Morinaga, took home a £2000 (USD $2172) cash prize. In addition, he gets the honor of deciding which animal welfare organization the competition will make a £5,000 (USD $5424) contribution to. And, apparently after much thought, he chose the UK-based Cat Welfare Group.

Category winners, meanwhile get a Comedy Pet Photography Awards goody bag and bragging rights. Now, on to the photos!

Overall winner & Cat category winner

The Cat category and overall winning image definitely has a cartoon vibe. It’s as if these two were chasing one another, Tom and Jerry style, only to collide, head-on, leading to two exaggeratedly compacted bodies. I fully expect an accordion to play in the moments after this collision.

Horse category winner

Radim Filipek took home the top prize in the “Mighty Horse” category. And gosh darn are those some jovial equine. Mamma, on the right, seems to be really laughing it up and having a good time, (though a Crest Whitening strip couldn’t hurt). And, crikey, Monty is a big boy for just three days old!

Other Creatures category winner

Personally, this is my favorite image of the bunch. That expression, the single tooth showing, and the long stogey-looking stick dangling from the mouth all give this alpaca a most humanlike quality. In fact, I’m pretty sure I encountered this guy playing blackjack at an off-the-boardwalk casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Junior category winner

Cats are curious creatures and occasionally, their instincts get the best of them. That appears to be the case for Jack the Cat here. Poor fella is stuck at the top of the hedge! Hopefully, his rescue didn’t require a visit from the fire department. Either way, Freya Sharpe took home the top prize in the 16 and under category for this one. And it sounds like Jack is made it down safe and sound.

Pets who look like their owners

The more I look at this image, the more I see the resemblance. They say couples who grow old together start to look like one another. Perhaps the same is true of pets?

People’s Choice

The people have spoken and their favorite image is this fantastic snap of one goofy, happy, recently-rescued pup. Between his story and that face, how could Carter not bring a smile to yours?

Comedy Pet Team Favorites

Finally, the folks who run the contest picked a favorite and they chose well. While the image title suggests that this proper pup is a chauffeur, I see them more as the cool guy, rolling up in a fly red whip, ready to steal yo’ girl or guy. Pup just needs some Tom Cruise-approved aviators.

Submit your own funny pet photos

Got some funny pet photos of your own? Details for next year’s contest have yet to be announced but keep an eye on the contest website for updates.

The post Laugh it up fuzzball – the year’s funniest pet photos appeared first on Popular Photography.

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For this week’s reader challenge, we asked you to submit photos of the inanimate. And as always, you delivered. While some folks settled on more unusual subjects to photograph, the vast majority of you stuck with classic still life hallmarks, including floral arrangments, skulls, glassware, and more. The winning images range from dramatic to lighthearted to just plain spooky.

Want to be featured in a future gallery? Weekly themes are posted Sundays. To enter, you can upload your submissions to our Flickr pool, tag them on Instagram and Twitter, or join/upload them to our Photos of the Day Facebook group.

Lead image by David Terao. See more of David’s work here.

Channeling the Dutch masters

Skulls are a staple of the still life genre and Instagram user Skzikit brilliantly channels the work of Dutch Golden Age painters like Pieter Claesz with this shot. Plus, with Halloween nearly upon us, the spooky factor feels especially fitting.

Eggs? Eggs.

Sometimes the simplest subjects make for the most enjoyable images. And Susan Liepa‘s image of eggs is a good example. Something about it makes me smile, maybe it’s the delicate way they’re stacked, the gentle tones, or the soft focus. Or maybe I’m just hungry for a hardboiled… nope, definitely the former.

Swirls of shadows & highlights

This is a particularly gorgeous image of a subject most simple—the humble glass—captured masterfully by José Luis Funes. The swirling highlights and shadows play nicely off the plain, slightly textured grey backdrop. And the framing gives ample breathing room around the subject.

But perhaps most importantly, it appears no beverages were spilled during the making of this shot.

Standing straight

This still life, captured by Robert Serbinenko also put a smile on my face. Though the subject is once again quite ordinary, the results are both humorous and eye-catching. I feel like I’m looking at some tiny soldiers standing straight in a line against a setting sun, or maybe an unreleased Pink Floyd album cover. Or maybe both.

Horizontal arrangement with lilies & flax

This classic still life scene was captured by Judith Hamblyn using her Samsung S10 smartphone. The arrangement looks professionally styled, i.e. gorgeous. And I love the way the floral colors pop against the dark green backdrop.

’69 GTO

Finally, we have this awesome barn scene, featuring a 1969 Pontiac GTO, snapped in Southern Alberta, Canada by Gordon Hunter. While old cars, busted bikes, and rotting dolls may not be the first thing you think of when you think “still life,” the scene surely works! I can only imagine what other treasures are hiding in there.

The post Freeze! The week’s best reader-submitted still life photos appeared first on Popular Photography.

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An aurora dances, illuminating the night sky. The Milky Way stretches across snowy mountain tops. An abstracted view of the sun and moon. These images and more make up the winning cohort for this year’s Astronomy Photographer of the Year awards, which are put on anually by the Royal Observatory Greenwich in London. 

About the Astronomy Photographer of the Year 

Related: Feast your eyes on these brilliant astronomy photos

In its 14th year, the Astronomy Photographer of the Year awards whittled down over 3,000 submissions from 67 countries to crown the winners. The competition is hosted by the Royal Observatory Greenwich, and the images are on display at the National Maritime Museum in London starting September 17. 

The goal of the awards is to present the best space photography from around the world. Photographers can enter images into the following categories: Aurorae; Galaxies; Our Moon; Our Sun; People and Space; Planets, Comets, and Asteroids; Skyscapes; Stars and Nebulae; and the Young Competition. There are also two special prizes, the Sir Patrick Moore Prize for Best Newcomer and the Annie Maunder Prize for Image Innovation.

The grand prize winner receives £10,000 (approximately $11,400), while the Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year nets £1,500 ($1,700). Runners-up and highly commended entries will see £500 ($570) and £250 ($285), respectively. All winners receive a one-year subscription to BBC Sky at Night Magazine. 

Astronomy Photographer of the Year

Related: Best telescopes

Also the winner of the “Planets, Comets, and Asteroids” category, Gerald Rhemann now bears the title of Astronomy Photographer of the Year with his image, Disconnection event. The picture shows Comet Leonard’s gas tail being swept away by solar wind. 

“Rhemann’s astonishing image of Comet Leonard, a long-period comet first identified in January 2021, was captured by the Austrian photographer in Namibia on Christmas Day. Comet Leonard was the brightest comet of the year in 2021 but won’t be seen from Earth again,” the jury writes. 

“When I first saw this image of Comet Leonard, I was blown away. This picture of a recent visitor to our Solar System has been captured beautifully. The stars in the background give the comet’s tail a magical appearance. I could stare at this image all day,” commented Melissa Brobby, judge and Social Media Officer for the Institute of Physics.

Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year

A team of plucky 14-year-olds snagged the Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year prize. Yang Hanwen and Zhou Zezhen submitted a photo of the Milky Way’s closest and largest neighbor, the Andromeda Galaxy.

“I think this photo shows how gorgeous our nearest neighbor is,” Hanwen says. “One of the main functions of astrophotography is to attract more people to fall in love with astronomy by showing the beauty of the Universe,” adds Zezhen.

The judges were impressed, too. 

“It is a superb capture by young astrophotographers, who also demonstrate their exceptional talent in processing a deep-sky photo.” writes László Francsics, judge and Chairman of the Hungarian Astrophraphers’ Association.  

Skyscapes

Zijui Hu’s winning image uses light trails to give the illusion of speed, evoking a scene reminiscent of Star Wars against the dramatic backdrop of a mountain peak rising above the fog. 

“I love the juxtaposition of the star trails against the clear peak of the mountain. The motion of the clouds adds to the drama,” Hu says.

People & Space

Andrew McCarthy puts the International Space Station into perspective as it traverses its stellar path. Mighty though it may be, the picture highlights how small we truly are. 

“The symbol of man, the tiny silhouette of the ISS, is dwarfed by the vast and detailed lunar surface, colored by mineral deposits. It shows us just how fragile we are,” notes judge Francsics.

Aurorae

Jagged chunks of ice glow softly in the gentle light of an aurora, which streaks green against a dark, starry night sky. 

“I love this photo because it really sums up aurorae for me: the green ‘swoosh’ reflected in the icy lake, the clarity of the edges of the ice blocks and the looming shadow of the mountain,” comments judge Sheila Kanani. 

Galaxies

The team of Utkarsh Mishra, Michael Petrasko, and Muir Evenden claimed the Galaxies category prize with Majestic Sombrero Galaxy. Upon closer inspection, you can see where it gets its unusual name: the faint galaxy does indeed resemble a hat.

“The Sombrero is a well-documented galaxy, yet astrophotographers still find ways to tease more majesty from it. To see the misty remnants of previous collisions surrounding the galaxy, itself floating alone in the void, is just exquisite,” notes judge Steve Marsh.

Our Moon 

Martin Lewis is the winner of the Our Moon category with a stunning detail image featuring Plato’s East Rim. The stark lighting and heavy shadow add an element of mystery to an otherwise well-known fixture of space.

“This close-up of the Plato crater has become one of my favorite photographs of the Moon. This image of the east rim being hit by the Sun’s rays is wondrously unique and proves that, no matter how often we look at the Moon, it always has many more wonderful sights for us to observe,” says judge Brobby. 

Our Sun

Here, the sun glows—not a fiery, explosive, bubbling dance, but rather projecting a powerful calm over the planets it presides. 

“The commitment and diligence (not to mention luck) needed to image the Sun every day for a year is a feat within itself. But, more than just a matter of hard work, this photographer has achieved a fascinating and unique look at the progression of sunspot bands across its disc,” judge Marsh writes.

Stars & nebulae

If a higher power is out there, Weitang Liang sure captured some convincing proof. It doesn’t look like anything you’d want to cross—but the beauty is dazzling nonetheless. 

“The colors in this photograph make for a stunning composition—from the fiery red to the defiant, moody blue at the center of the ‘eye’. It’s easy to see how the ancients used to stargaze into the heavens and imagine that the cosmos was looking back, keeping a watchful eye over us,” shares judge Imad Ahmed. 

The Annie Maunder Prize for Digital Innovation

With a little bit of abstraction, Pauline Woolley transforms the sun into a desolate maze streaked by ominous black swirls that harken back to swaying branches in the wind. 

“Dendrochronology—the scientific method of calculating dates based on tree rings—is used by art historians and conservators to date wood panel paintings, but here the technology has been utilized to create an unusual and beautiful composition. This is an innovative photograph that immediately astonished all the judges,” writes judge Hannah Lyons.

The Sir Patrick Moore Prize for Best Newcomer

Stretching high into the starry sky, the Milky Way forms a celestial bridge across snow-capped mountains, earning Lun Deng the Sir Patrick Moore Prize for Best Newcomer. 

“The icy, ragged mountaintop is contrasted beautifully with the Milky Way, the lighter pink and indigo hues of which offer us a mesmerizing, warm glow. I also have to commend the photographer’s dedication—standing in the snow in freezing conditions—to capture this picture!” judge Ahmed comments. 

How to enter the Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition

The Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition is open to all photographers worldwide. The submission period begins on January 10, with a limit of 10 photos per participant. Check the website or the Facebook group for updated information and deadlines.

The post Ephemeral auroras and playful galaxies: these are the Astronomy Photographer of the Year winners appeared first on Popular Photography.

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Graffiti and street art can be found nearly anywhere in the world—from the streets of Tahiti to the train yards of New York City. What was once a frowned upon art form now enjoys a much more popular acceptance and appreciation. And this week’s winning Photos of the Day showcase the kaleidoscopic chaos found in the streets and, in one instance, the story behind it. 

Related: Martha Cooper revisits the chaotic, gritty & enchanting world of graffiti in 1980s NYC

Want to be featured in a future gallery? Weekly themes are posted Sundays. To enter, you can upload your submissions to our Flickr pool, tag them on Instagram and Twitter, or join/upload them to our Photos of the Day Facebook group.

Lead image by Paula Gallagher Brown on Facebook. See more of Paula‘s work here. 

A balancing act

Sometimes it’s the people and the place together that make a photograph interesting, as is the case with Raymond Choo’s photo. Not only did he come across a vibrant piece of art, but he also captured an equally interesting passerby. If you look closely, the figure walks out of the frame, perfectly balancing an apple atop her head. 

New York, NY

Ted Meisel’s image of a wall in Brooklyn is equal parts whimsical and simultaneously…disturbing. But good art makes you feel something, and this definitely does stir up some emotion. 

The artist

When graffiti first emerged, artists worked in the dead of night to avoid the authorities. While still true in some cases, there’s more freedom now—including opportunities for street and graffiti artists to be commissioned for works. Here, Michael Pancier shows the creator revealed but still mysterious. 

It’s lunchtime

That dog sure does look hungry with its tongue hanging out. Bruce Bain is right, Joe the roach better be on the lookout, or else.

Hey there, Detroit

Raymon Thompson documents the spirit of a city with this colorful piece that gives off both serious ’90s vibes and a powerful message of community perseverance. Plus, who doesn’t love a groovin’ boombox?

We want it now

Donald Bilski’s image is poignant for the times. Peace now and be good to your neighbor, everyone. 

The post Reader-submitted graffiti & street art photos showcase a cacophony of color appeared first on Popular Photography.

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A bird’s eye view gives us the ability to observe everyday places, people, and activities with fresh a fresh perspective. And sometimes, the most unexpected locations yield the most creative results. The Drone Photo Awards are celebrating the year’s best aerial photography and videography, and the winning images are inspiring, heartbreaking, thoughtful, and every emotion in between. 

About the Drone Photo Awards

Related: The best drones of 2022

The worldwide competition celebrates drone photography and video as a spinoff of the Siena Awards, a photography competition that promotes international arts, culture, traditions, and monuments. The Drone Photo Awards are meant to be an avenue to appreciate the craft and separate it from traditional camera photography.

The competition is open to creators using fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, balloons, blimps, dirigibles, rockets, kites, and parachutes. Take your pick! Participants can submit photos into up to eight categories: Wedding, Nature, People, Urban, Animals, Abstract, Sport, and Video. 

An international jury panel representing six countries chooses the winners. Those selected will have their work showcased at a gallery in Siena, Italy during the Siena Awards Festival and are invited to participate in the opening reception.

The top prize awards €500,000 (USD $502,190) in photography equipment and the title of Drone Photographer of the Year. Category winners receive a Pangea Prize Crystal statuette presented at the awards ceremony in October. The jury also names runners-up for each category, along with highly commended, and commended distinctions. All images are displayed in Siena at the exhibition, “Above Us Only Sky.”

Here are the victors. 

Drone Photographer of the Year

A picture’s worth a thousand words—and so is a good crop. Somewhat far from what the title would have you believe, the winning entry of the Drone Photo Awards actually depicts a secondary fissure close to the main crater of the Fagradalsfjall volcano in Iceland. Armand Sarlangue braved the rain and strong winds during a storm in order to document the event. 

Urban

Serhiy Vovk captures the mesmerizing repetition of Copenhagen’s Kartoffelrækkerne neighborhood in Oesterbro. In its past life, the area served as affordable, working-class housing, but today it’s one of the city’s most sought-after locations.

Wildlife

A fantastic flock of flamingoes fills the frame in Mehdi Mohebipour’s image, which won the Wildlife category.

“Flamingos sleep together at night for greater security and stay close together during the day, thus protecting each other,” Mohebipour shares. “In this crowd of bodies the colorful nuances of the plumage and the reflections of the light stand out.”

Sports

The winner of the Drone Photo Awards Sports category is Daniel Koszela, who submitted this colorful image of skiers racing down the mountain at the 46th Bieg Piastów cross-country skiing competition held in Szklarska Poręba, Poland. The motion blur adds to the frenzied excitement and speed of the race. 

People

Anindita Roy’s winning photograph freezes a moment of calm in the chaos. 

“Dhaka is located on the bank of the famous Buriganga river,” Roy writes. “Sadarghat river port of Dhaka is the busiest port in Bangladesh, with services to most of the districts in the country. People from both sides of the Buriganga river cross it using small boats. The boatmen working on them usually sleep at night on the boats themselves.”

Nature

The ocean meets the desert in a peaceful juxtaposition, as photographed by winner David Rouge on the South Atlantic Ocean. 

Abstract

Saurabh Sirohiya shows the artistic side to an otherwise grueling job: laborers working at a salt pan.

“They move the salt to form circular lines allowing a slow evaporation under the hot sun. At the end of the day the salt will be collected in baskets,” Sirohiya notes. A change in perspective really can reveal the beauty of seemingly mundane tasks. 

Wedding

This is no typical wedding day drone shot. Winner Krzysztof Krawczyk adds an ethereal, fine-art edge to the category with a breathtaking submission.

“The effect of the sun on the water, a felled tree and a brave bride lying on it: a magnificent picture drawn by nature,” Krawczyk says. “The surface of the water looks like a starry night sky, while the bride looks like a dreamy princess.”

Series

To create this series, photographer Dmitry Kokh trekked for 1200 miles along the Chukotka and Wrangel Island coasts in Russia. While taking shelter from a storm on the island of Kolyuchin, Kokh spotted polar bears through his binoculars as they roamed abandoned houses. Kokh employed a drone with low-noise propellers to photograph the bears without disturbing them. 

Video: General

Mauro Pagliai brings viewers around Italy, showcasing the country from north to south, seas to mountains, cities, and valleys—you’ll want to head on an Italian vacation after watching this. 

Video: Photojournalism

Yurii Bobyr presents the stark reality of Ukraine in the wake of Russian’s invasion. 

Video: Travel  

Alen Tkalcec’s winning video is a patchwork quilt of travels. It features hot air balloons and snow-covered peaks rising towards the sky, cliffside towns, pyramids, beaches, and more. If that’s not enough to give you wanderlust, we don’t know what is. 

How to enter the Drone Photo Awards 

The Drone Photo Awards are open to amateurs and professionals alike, and the jury will accept both published and unpublished work. Your first entry is free, or you can submit three images for €20 (USD $20). Each additional image beyond that is €10 (USD $10), with series and video submissions billed at €35 (USD $35). 

Creators can enter their works by May 20 for a discounted rate. The deadline to submit is June 25, but check the website for updates. 

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Photographically speaking, birds reign supreme here at PopPhoto. We just finished covering the 13th annual Audubon Photography Awards, and now we’re back with another stunning gallery of avian life. The 2022 Bird Photographer of the Year awards showcase majestic migrations, cheeky dances, and fierce brawls.

Related: All things avian: our favorite reader-submitted Photos of the Day 

About the Bird Photographer of the Year awards

The competition garnered over 20,000 submissions competing for the grand prize of £5,000 (USD $5,797) and the title of Bird Photographer of the Year. Gold, Silver, and Bronze prizes are also awarded in every category, of which there are eight: Best Portrait, Birds in the Environment, Attention to Detail, Bird Behavior, Birds in Flight, Black & White, Urban Birds, and Creative Imagery. There is also a Conservation Award, Portfolio Award, and Video Award. The goal of the Bird Photographer of the Year awards is to not only celebrate avian life but to also highlight the need to protect it.

Winning images were selected by a large international judging panel representing various wildlife industries, from photography to conservation, broadcasting, and publishing. 

“Once again our talented photographers have cast a light on the incredible diversity of bird life that we share our planet with,” says Will Nicholls, Director of Bird Photographer of the Year. “But it is also a stark reminder of what we stand to lose if we don’t continue to look after the natural world and fight for its protection from the many threats that exist today.”

Bird Photographer of the Year 

Norwegian photographer Erlend Haarberg took home the top prize and won the Birds in the Environment category with an image of a Rock Ptarmigan soaring over snow-capped mountains.

“High up in the mountains, the wind, snow, and cold maintain the iron grip of winter for many months on end. This is where Rock Ptarmigan thrive in an endless white landscape,” says Haarberg. “On this particular winter’s day, I was on my way to a mountain top. I had almost reached the summit when I spotted some ptarmigan tracks in the snow. Soon a bird took flight, with the dramatic backdrop showing what a harsh environment this bird calls home.”

Young Bird Photographer of the Year

Though the weather for this particular trip was less than ideal, Young Bird Photographer of the Year Levi Fitze made the most of it.

“When I saw a group of Dunlin struggling with a small sandstorm, I decided to risk my equipment and attempt to photograph them,” Fitze shares. “I could really see on their faces how annoyed they were by the wind and sand flying everywhere.”

Attention to detail

Mention a King Penguin and a striking tuxedo coat may very well come to mind. Attention to Detail category winner Andy Pollard offers up a different perspective with an image of a penguin chick fast asleep. 

“While most images of King Penguins seem to be of striking adult birds, there is a definite cuteness to the chicks in their brown ‘teddy bear’ plumage,” Pollard writes. “This chick was asleep at Volunteer Point in the Falkland Islands, and I took the opportunity to capture the details around the beak, eye, and ear, the latter seldom seen.”

Best Portrait

Strut like you mean it. Ly Dang took home the Gold Award in the Portrait category for this humorous image of a Sage Grouse putting on a show. 

“I arrived at the lek more than an hour before the birds so I could set up my hide without causing disturbance. Similarly, with the best interests of the birds at heart, I packed up the hide only when the last bird had left the area,” Dang recounts. “In previous years I had tried to capture this type of portrait shot but had been unsuccessful. However, on this particular morning my luck changed when this bird wandered close to my hide in full display. The photograph was taken without using baiting, calls, lures, or unethical practices of any kind.”

Bird Behavior

Don’t get in the way of these birds. A Sage Grouse is ready to put up a ferocious fight to win a lady. Peter Ismert won the Bird Photographer of the Year’s Bird Behavior category for this electric capture. 

“They have an elaborate display designed to attract and impress females and show their superiority; inevitably this leads to a rivalry between males and challenges on the lek.”

Birds in Flight

A mystical, mythical scene observed by Raoul Slater reveals an interesting tidbit about life in rural Australia. 

“Large areas of Australia are flat, dry, and given over to wheat farming. Towns can consist of as little as a truck stop and a collection of grain silos. In some locations, these silos have become popular palettes for enormous murals, drawing tourists into otherwise desolate areas,” Slater explains. “I passed through Yelarbon and stopped for two hours to photograph the Galahs that are attracted to spilt grain. The results were so pleasing and surreal that I made the seven-hour trip on a subsequent weekend to have another go, only to find that a mouse plague had moved in and the silos were being fumigated—no Galahs.”

Black & White

Two worlds collide in Henley Spiers’ image, which won the Bird Photographer of the Year black and white award. Sky and sea meet for a breathtaking capture. 

“Ten meters down, I found myself hovering between two worlds. Below, an enormous school of fish covered the bottom as far as I could see. Above, a single Double-crested Cormorant patrolled the surface, catching its breath and peering down at a potential underwater feast,” Spiers shares. “The cormorant, better designed for swimming than flying, would dive down at speed, aggressively pursuing the fish. The school would move in unison to escape the bird’s sharp beak, making it difficult to isolate a single target. More often than not, the bird returned to the surface empty-billed, and peace would momentarily be restored.”

Urban Birds

Head in the clouds. A flock of Greater Flamingos cruises above the skyscrapers of Abu Dhabi, which are engulfed in an ethereal mist. 

“At the time it seemed a bit like a fantasy, a fleeting moment made surreal as the birds unexpectedly flew past,” Ahmed says. “Fortunately, I was prepared for action and my zoom lens allowed me to frame the birds and capture the moment.”

Creative Imagery

Swoops and swirls, birds in flight, and hope of possibility. Photographer Petro Katerynych shares the deep meaning these White Storks hold for the people of Ukraine. 

“In Ukrainian mythology White Storks symbolize faithfulness and strength of spirit. White Storks are seen as a symbol of love for their motherland. When spring arrives and storks return home, Ukrainians young and old go out into the streets, greet the birds’ arrival and sing traditional songs called Vesnyanki in celebration,” Katerynych explains. “Storks also set a good example and serve to remind Ukrainians how important it is to love our homeland. They fly thousands of kilometers to warmer lands when there is a bitter winter. But they always come back, overcoming all the hardships that beset them on their journey. We believe that love for their native land gives the storks the strength to survive and return home. My fellow Ukrainians are facing a similarly challenging task right now—once again they must defend their native nests, while some are forced to rush like storks in the direction of the sun. Many of us will fall, but I hope that spring is ahead of us. I believe that most of us will live to see the return of White Storks circling overhead in the peaceful skies of a free Ukraine. Then we will all rally together, and sing Vesnyanki once more.”

How to enter the Bird Photographer of the Year award

Submissions for the 2023 Bird Photographer of the Year awards open on September 9, with a deadline to submit by December 11. The contest welcomes both amateur and professional photographers of all ages worldwide. See the website for updated information. 

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Queen Elizabeth II passed away today at the age of 96. One of the most photographed humans of the 20th century, her own passion for photography was no secret. The late British monarch was often documented with a camera in hand. In fact, images of her chatting up photographers and inspecting camera gear are plentiful.

To celebrate her life and passion for image-making, we’ve gathered together some of our favorite shots of Queen Elizabeth II, the photographer. Each shows her rocking a different camera, from a golden Rollei 35 to a vintage Kodak home movie camera—these are just some of the standouts from her royal collection.

Note: We couldn’t find any images of the late queen shooting with a digital camera—perhaps she was a film fanatic through and through? Let us know if you come across one, info@popphoto.com.

Leica M3

When it comes to the late queen’s favorite camera, we won’t speculate. But she was most often spotted handling a silver Leica M3 with an accessory lightmeter mounted on top. And for good reason, the M3 is an absolute classic, not to mention, a workhorse. And while trendy celebrities may tote Leicas these days for clout, Queen Elizabeth II was rocking one—and actually using it—decades prior. That’s a true icon.

Leica M6

At some point, though, it appears her majesty traded in the Leica M3 for a more modern Leica M6, which offers a built-in lightmeter, among other upgrades. Perhaps the move was simply a means to simplify her kit? After all, the two cameras share the same basic design. If so, there’s something oddly relatable about that.

Gold Rollei 35

Related: I’m obsessed with the Rollei 35 and haven’t picked anything else up in months

This is by far my favorite camera from her majesty’s collection (that I know of). Not only is the Rollei 35 famous for its design but to have it dripped out in gold is beyond legendary.

For those unfamiliar, this is one of the smallest 35mm film cameras ever made, and though it can be cumbersome to use (delicate fingers are a must), it’s capable of absolutely terrific results—truly a camera lover’s camera.

Canon Sure Shot Tele 80 

I must admit, this is an unexpected one. The above image was captured in May 2000, during an era when digital photography was just starting to give film a run for the money. However, as we now know, the late queen seemed keener on celluloid than silicon. So, rather than grab a state-of-the-art, 3-megapixel Canon Powershot G1, her majesty opted for a more humble Canon Sure Shot Tele 80 film camera.

Rolleiflex TLR

Queen Elizabeth II wasn’t just a 35mm photographer, she also dabbled in medium format. And honestly, I can’t think of a more enjoyable medium format camera to shoot with than a Rolleiflex twin lens reflex (TLR). These are wonderful machines to handle, on par with Leicas, and owning one is a testament to any photographer’s excellent taste in gear.

Kodak 16mm cine camera

Related: Everything you need to know to get started with Super 8 film

Finally, a movie camera: Though stills were clearly the late queen’s passion, she was also apparently fond of moviemaking. Here she is in 1953 shooting with the suitably named Kodak Royal, a 16mm, spring-motor-driven cinema camera.

And here’s another photo of her from 1965 with a different cinema camera. Always on the cutting edge, it’s cathartic to think about the late Queen of England nerding out on the latest tech and upgrading her kit accordingly, not just as a stills shooter but as a video enthusiast too.

From one camera nerd to another, Rest in Peace, Your Majesty.

Note: An earlier version of this article misidentified the format of the queen’s cine camera as 8mm.

The post A closer look at some of Queen Elizabeth II’s favorite cameras appeared first on Popular Photography.

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Color photography is fun but it can at times also be distracting. The simplicity offered in monochrome is an easy way to strip down a scene to its essence, to focus on the lines, shapes, and composition of a photograph, without being sidetracked by bold hues. In its first year, the winning selection of the Black and White Photo Award celebrates the majesty of monochrome.

Related: Best black and white film

About the Black & White Photo Award

The inaugural Black and White Photo Award set out to discover the best B&W photographers, including professionals and amateurs alike. Participants can submit their images to five categories: Architecture, Street, Portraiture, Fauna and Flora, and Landscape. 

Prizes are awarded by a jury composed of Joel Tjintjelaar, a B&W fine-art photographer, educator, and photography software designer; Julia Anna Gospodarou, International Photography Awards Professional Architecture Photographer of the Year; and Charles Paul Azzopardi, president of the Malta Institute of Professional Photography. Additionally, an assistant jury of professional photographers representing Haida and NCJ Media Solutions helped the panel in choose the winners. 

The overall winner is the recipient of €1000 (USD $995); category winners receive €100 (USD $100). There is also a prize for creativity, which pays €200 (USD $199), and the Haida Special Award, whose prize is a Haida filter kit. Here are the victors—plus a few of our favorite picks.

Related: You should develop your own black and white film. Here’s how

Overall winner

Johan Willems claimed the top prize with a majestic photo of a cheetah presiding over her brood. The fluffy, scraggly little pack is nearly obscured by the tall grasses as mom stands on lookout duty. 

Special Prize for Creativity

In Levitate, Dusty Cooper snags the Special Prize for Creativity. A long exposure and strategic lighting create a ghostly, ephemeral photo that feels like a dream. 

Architecture

Geometry, light, and shadow marry beautifully here. Hector Ballester punctuates the scene with the barely perceptible human element in the distance. 

Street

Saurabh Sirohiya offers a unique perspective of worshippers gathering for the celebration of an important holiday in Islam. 

Portrait

Portrait winner Kazutoshi Kawakami offers up an abstract interpretation of the traditional portrait that feels like something Man Ray might have been into. 

Fauna & flora

In the absence of color, Enric Adrian Gener allows us to appreciate the beautiful lines created by a group of devil rays as they travel through the sea. 

Landscape

Vasilis Livanos conveys the vastness, emptiness, and loneliness of the wilderness. 

Haida Special Award

George Digalakis took home the Haida Special Award for this serene shot. The gentle, glittering reflection adds a little drama to an overcast day. 

A few of our favorites 

Wrong way

Feel the irony here. A group of people walking in the opposite direction of the pointing arrow that frames them. 

Squad

If giraffes could sing, this would be a strong contender for the mixtape cover. 

Look up

Architecture photography done well, what can we say? The intense curvature of the structure seamlessly guides the eye through the frame. 

How to enter

All photographers over the age of 18 can submit an unlimited number of images. The photos must be B&W, and both film and digital are accepted mediums. A fee of €15 (USD $15) allows up to five pictures per category. The deadline to participate is June 15; see the website for updated information.

The post B&W Photo Award winners celebrate mastery in monochrome appeared first on Popular Photography.

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A race car zips down the track to a child’s delight. The sun’s last golden tendrils cling to a cloudy sky. A horse and its rider share a tender moment. For this week’s Photo of the Day challenge, we asked readers to show us what they most love to photograph, and the results are a delightful mélange of subjects. 

Want to be featured in a future Photo of the Day gallery? Weekly themes are posted Sundays. To enter, you can upload your submissions to our Flickr pool, tag them on Instagram and Twitter, or join/upload them to our Photos of the Day Facebook group.

Lead image by Rudiescu on Flickr. See more work here. 

Best buds

Lucia Williams touchingly captures the trust and bond between a horse and its rider—something crucial when performing stunts. 

Shapes

Chris For’s use of B&W draws the eye to the structure’s distinct geometric patterns and the landscape’s fading light. There’s an air of drama and loneliness that pervades the frame. 

Cannonball 

Jeff Dennis makes a splash with a split-second frame from the 2022 Canada Games. The lines in this image add to its compelling allure. 

Sunset serenity 

It’s the last warmth and glow of a sunset, a daily event that always brings a little melancholy. Debra Clare’s image displays the wonder and awe of standing under a vast sky in the dying light. 

Zoom zoom

Angie Muzeni-Corino’s picture captures the energy of a day at the racetrack, buffered by the innocent curiosity of a child peering between the chain-link fence, hoping for a glimpse of the action. 

Red-winged Fairywren

A fluffy Fairywren precariously balances on a flower’s stem, the florals’ deep red petals a perfect punctuation mark on the scene shot by Dalida Innes.

The post JPEG jumble: the week’s best reader-submitted photos appeared first on Popular Photography.

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