Ricoh/Pentax announced a daguerreotype camera, catching the film industry off guard. “It’s 1830s specs, but with some modern touches,” designer Takeo Suzuki stated via Instagram.

While the video doesn’t reveal many details or a launch date, Suzuki stated that the camera is in development. “We have wanted to embrace analog technology. The Film Camera Project was just stretching a bit and warming up. Pentax is now seriously throwing down.”

Following the design of inventor Louis Jacques Mandé Daguerre

Pentax went on to say that their daguerreotype uses the same process as the original 1830s design. “Young people have increasingly shown interest in these kinds of cameras, and we want them to experience the joy that the early pioneering photographers felt.”

With traditional daguerreotype cameras, the photographer polished a silver-plated copper sheet until it was like a mirror. Then they zapped it with iodine and bromine vapors to make it light sensitive. After that, they inserted the sheet into the camera, where the exposure was made. The photographer then placed the exposed plate over heated mercury fumes until the image appeared. This produced a surprisingly detailed, one-of-a-kind image.

What are some of the updates to the original daguerreotype design?

Since the daguerreotype camera is still in development, Ricoh/Pentax offered few other details. However, they did state that they were exploring various materials. “The original wooden housings were often very large and cumbersome,” Suzuki stated, “so we are exploring other materials, including innovative inflatable housings.”

The company also noted that they were looking into using heated fumes “other than mercury,” noting that customers shouldn’t breathe toxic fumes.

Ricoh/Pentax is also looking at creating silver-plated copper sheets with wifi and Bluetooth connectivity so the photographer can upload their daguerreotype prints to social media easily.

Is this news an absurd head-scratcher? Yep, we got you! Happy April Fools’ Day!

For decades, the April Fools’ Day tradition has given journalists around the world permission to write a little fake news every April 01. And there has been plenty of photography-related fooling over the years.

We remember one from the Eighties when Olympus (now OM System) claimed that photography had been first discovered by a Japanese monk in the 18th Century, over a hundred years before Daguerre and Fox Talbot. 

And there was the one about the 16-2000mm zoom for your SLR that a magazine reported was going to go on sale from April 01. Of course, nowadays the joke is on that writer with cameras like the Nikon Coolpix P1000 with its 24-3000mm lens!

In recent years, the internet has brought a new level of sophistication and fun to the April Fool – as you can reach more people on the right day, and support your fictitious tales with links and videos. We’ve trawled through the last few years to bring you seven of our favorites… 

1. Kodachrome makes a comeback

Everyone just wishes that this one were true… and this was therefore an inspired news story from The Phoblographer on April 01 2018. Fujifilm, Kodak and others have all been re-introducing silver halide films that they had previously discontinued. But the death of Kodachrome back in 2009 was a particularly painful one for professionals and enthusiasts that had cut their teeth on this classic yellow-boxed emulsion. 

“Rejoice, photographers: those of us who never got to shoot Kodak Kodachrome seem to be getting a chance after all,” went the news piece. 

“Almost 10 years after the company announced the death of the beloved film emulsion, Kodak is letting the world know that Kodachrome is indeed going to be returning to shelves very soon after Ektachrome hits stores.” 

If only it were true… but the specialist chemistry used to develop Kodachrome, which was done in a handful of Kodak sites around the world, is reason enough why this analog reincarnation will never come to pass.

2. Underwater instant camera

This one dates from 2014 from the fun-loving crew at Lomography. Instant cameras were at that point starting their meteoric return to people’s affection – and Lomography had entered the market with its own retro-inspired range of instant print models. But this Fool’s jape involved the idea that they were launching an underwater instant camera, that spurted out the prints as you swam around in the pool or sea. Called the Lomo’Instant Caribbean it even had its own launch film to make the idea that bit more credible.

“Following the incredible response and enthusiasm on our Kickstarter campaign, we are thrilled to say ‘Ahoy mateys!’ with the release of the Lomo’Instant Caribbean Edition,” began the fiction. 

“The world’s first and only dedicated underwater instant camera, the Lomo’Instant Caribbean Edition opens the door to the exciting world of underwater instant fun. Test the waters and take it for a dive with the turtles in Barbados or catch the waves on your next surf trip in Maui!”

3. Rogge & Pott’s Re-35

This is one of the most sophisticated April Fool tomfooleries of recent years. The Re-35 was an ingenious hoax that claimed that a company had invented 35mm canisters that would bring digital imaging to your old analog SLRs. The canisters came with their own patented scratch-resistant Flexisensor that pulled out to replace the silver halide film, and then recorded the image onto the digital memory. The Re-35 canister then hooked up to your computer using a convenient USB connection.

A pop-up message on the website now explains all: “Some things are too good to be true! Re-35 does not really exist. We (the design company Rogge & Pott) created Re-35 as an exercise in identity design. We invented the ‘product’ because it was something that we had wished for for a long time (as many others). We launched the website and sent out ‘press releases’ on April first – thinking, that the date would make clear, that Re35 is just wishful thinking – a classic April Fools’ Prank!”

However, the joke is now on Rogge & Pott – the I’m Back company now produces digital backs and film canisters that really do bring old film cameras back to life.

4. GoPro’s handy accessory

With over three million Instagram followers, Murad Osmann‘s #FollowMeTo project became well-known the world over – and was much copied by others. But the trouble with this style of selfie is that you need a friend or assistant to be able to get the shot, which shows you holding hands with the person holding the camera. 

GoPro‘s April Fool solution in 2018 was to suggest a new addition to the army of existing GoPro accessories. 

“We’ve all been there: picturesque view, perfect light, exotic location…but you’re solo. It’s just you and your GoPro. Sure, you can frame in a nice landscape shot, or even snag a classic selfie, but expectations are looming,” read the GoPro news release. 

“Your parents have been hounding you for years about settling down with ‘the one’, and lately, even your friends are starting to drop subtle jabs about your choice for independence. Why not continue to enjoy the journey alone while giving the impression of companionship? Introducing Armie, the ultimate mount for living up to expectation.” Not bad for $59.99!

5. DSLR for left-handers

Head back to 2013 and The-Digital-Picture.com came up with a great idea for the 10% of the population that are left-handed. It was the ‘news’ that Canon was introducing a new special-edition of its EOS 7D DSLR, which had the grip on the left-hand side of the body rather than on the usual right-hand side, offering ‘reversed ergonomics’ for long-suffering southpaws. 

“Canon has been a world leader in innovation for over 65 years – and the EOS 7D L is another innovative product that we are proud to have associated with that heritage,” said the made-up company executive.

However, southpaw cameras do exist – take a look at Yashica’s real-life left-handed camera!

6. Mirrorless camera for left-handers

Dutch retailer Kamera Express took the left-handed baton and ran with it in 2023, going so far as to list an actual pre-order page on its store website for the Sony A7L V – a supposed leftie version of the Sony A7R V. Then it went even further and posted a straight-faced video preview to YouTube! 

Making use of a 3D-printed mockup of an A7R V for southpaws, the retailer really went the extra mile in its commitment to the bit. It was so well done that we wonder how many people clicked the pre-order button when it was live… or how many people were so tickled by the store’s sense of humor that they ended up placing orders with it for real cameras!

7. Medium format disposable camera

We loved this very-credible hoax from 2021. Disposable film cameras have been very popular in last few years, and the Fujifilm GFX series has created renewed interest in medium format cameras. So why not combine to the two and make a medium format disposable camera? 

This April Fools’ jape was dreamt up by Fujiaddict.com. The Fujifilm GFX Disposable would come with “a 60mm f/4 lens and 25 frames of 400H 1600 ISO 645 film inside. If the program is popular Fujifilm will also offer ACROS 645 inside as an option for $6.45 more”. 

The blog suggested that Fujifilm would be sold with the addition of a deposit that would cover the development cost of the 120 film, but would also cover you receiving 102MP scans of your images (and therefore encourage you to buy a Fujifilm GFX100 or GFX100S digital camera)!

Congratulations to Julie LaCrout, winner of the 2023 All WNY Award in the Best Sounds Person category. Congratulations also go to second-place winner, Meredith Snow and third-place vote-getter Matt Shotwell.

After a recent portrait shoot on location, I can say with confidence that the Sony A9 III is my new favorite camera for flash photography, and I’ve only scratched the surface of what it can do. 

Sony‘s new $6,100 / £6,000 mirrorless camera hit the headlines as the fastest camera ever with blazing 120fps burst shooting at full quality, but what excites me more, after completing an exhaustive A9 III in-depth review, is what this sports shooter does for flash photography. 

Why is the A9 III so much better than other mirrorless and DSLR cameras for flash photography? It packs new tech – a global shutter and Sony’s best-ever autofocus – that makes capturing portraits with flash on location so much easier. 

Let’s just say that the next time I’m out on a portrait shoot or wedding that needs flash and I don’t have the A9 III, I’ll cry a little inside.

The freedom a global shutter brings for shooting portraits with flash on location

The photo above was shot with the A9 III set to 1/2000 sec and the FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS lens at its maximum f/4 aperture, with an off-camera Sony HVLF46RM flash positioned in a softbox firing at full power and remotely triggered using the Sony FA WRC1M wireless radio commander attached to the camera. 

Sounds simple, right? Well, yes, it was, but it’s only thanks to the tech inside the A9 III – namely the new global shutter, which I’ll unpack later – that I could use these camera settings and achieve a shallow depth of field portrait with accurate focusing. There’s no stress about camera settings. Put simply, I can choose whatever camera and lens settings I like without any restriction, which can’t be said for almost any other camera. With the A9 III, I’m enjoying the most reliable autofocus system in the world to boot.

The above example is just for a simple on-location flash portrait shoot. I haven’t even touched on high-speed action photos with flash, which is where the A9 III tech really is a game changer.

Image 1 of 2

For flash portraiture with other systems, I’d have to reduce the lens aperture to around f/11 because the standard maximum flash sync speed is about 1/250sec (or less). If I shot at f/4 (or wider, like f/1.8, for an even shallower depth of field) at 1/250sec, my subject would be totally overexposed. And I don’t want f/11 because the background defocus is less extreme and my subject doesn’t stand out.

I’ve used an ND filter to reduce light intake as a workaround before using an f/4 or wider aperture. But it’s a faff, and can adversely affect the camera’s autofocus performance and color accuracy. And what if I take the filter on and off regularly like at a wedding when switching between natural light and flash?

I thought pairing the A9 III with a flash for such quick flash sync speeds would be a bit of a minefield, and you do need to play around with camera settings a bit, but in reality, it’s not that complicated. Put simply, the A9 III is the most versatile camera I’ve ever used for flash, and I wouldn’t think twice about hiring it for location portrait shoots. 

Limitless flash sync speed

Shooting with flash usually comes with unhelpful limits because of the brightness it emits combined with the maximum shutter speed you can use to sync with the flash of light. A regular DSLR or mirrorless camera flash sync speed tops out at 1/250sec, some slower than this. 

Under these restrictions you have various choices when using flash. Close down the aperture to around f/11, or if you need a large aperture for shallow depth of field portraits, you can throw an ND filter in front of your lens to reduce light intake and get the right exposure. Otherwise you’ll get overexposed blown out highlights on subjects illuminated with flash.

Not all cameras have such flash sync speed restrictions. Another versatile alternative for flash portraits is the Hasselblad X2D 100C. It uses a mechanical leaf shutter that is built into its lenses instead of the sensor and can also sync flash with any shutter speed, though its shutter is limited to 1/2000 sec at the fast end, whereas the A9 III’s maximum shutter speed is 1/80,000sec. Furthermore, its autofocus is simply no match for the A9 III and you can’t rely on it for accurate focusing. Yes, you get excellent image quality for portraits, but the X2D 100C is harder to use especially on location.

Why is the A9 III unrestricted? It’s the first mirrorless camera to feature a sensor with a global shutter which reads every pixel simultaneously. Most other mirrorless and DSLR cameras feature an electronic sensor with rolling shutter that reads pixels line by line, plus a mechanical shutter. 

In almost all DSLR and mirrorless cameras, flash is deactivated when using the electronic shutter because of the limited sensor readout speed – it has to be the mechanical shutter instead. The Nikon Z8 and Z9 are exceptions, relying entirely on stacked electronic sensor and boasting the quickest sensor readout speed (rolling shutter) of 1/250 sec, but their maximum flash sync speed is only 1/200sec.

This isn’t the place to get bogged down further in the technicals – why and when you use a mechanical shutter or electronic shutter. Suffice to say that the A9 III’s sensor with global shutter is a revelation for high-speed photography, especially flash photography, offering the best of both mechanical and electronic shutter worlds. 

For those who are into flash photography in particular, the A9 III opens up a whole other realm of creative possibilities, cleanly freezing fast action with no motion blur. It also makes portraits with flash a breeze. Whenever I’ve got a flash photography gig, the A9 III will be the first camera that comes to mind.

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Jordi Koalitic is known for his stunning photographs, which captivate viewers with their uniqueness. What sets him apart is the photographer’s willingness to share the secrets behind his creations, allowing others to learn and be inspired by his techniques. Jordi’s backstage videos collect millions of views, but particularly the recent one called Magic Door broke all the records.

The latest campaign featuring the Xiaomi Ultra 13 has been viewed by more than 570 million people, making it one of the most popular videos in recent times! With a follower base exceeding 35 million across multiple platforms, Koalitic’s influence is phenomenal. So, if you are not yet familiar with his artwork, we are happy to keep you up to date.

More info: Instagram | tiktok.com | youtube.com | Facebook

Meet Jordi Koalitic, a creative photographer, whose recent video has gone viral, achieving a new milestone

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Renowned photographer Jordi loves experimenting with capturing unique shots

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In a previous interview, Jordi shared that his interest in photography began along with his love for cinema when he was 18. “After two intensive summers of work, I bought my first camera, a Canon 6D, and began experimenting with photography and video. It wasn’t until three years ago, with the launch of my Instagram account, that I started taking photography seriously. My initial interest was to dominate the technique (light, composition, colors…) Over time, the need to consider the concept behind the image and to tell a story became more important,” shared Jordi.

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He shares his process and behind-the-scenes videos on social media, which generate millions of views

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Recently, a behind-the-scenes video called Magic Door broke all the records, accumulating a staggering 15 million likes and 280 million views on Instagram alone

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Fast forward to today, after a successful career, Jordi has reached new heights by creating a viral reel. We asked the photographer to explain how he came up with the idea for the Magic Door picture.

“The inspiration came from a previous photo shoot with Xiaomi, which left us wanting more. We decided to delve deeper into this idea, this time exploring the video format to enhance the visual impact. The concept of ‘framing,’ using elements like windows or doors to create a visual composition, was key. We worked to transform this vision into an experience that captured the essence of an emotional moment during a sunset while maintaining focus on depth and visual narrative,” shared Jordi.

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According to many updated lists, this Reel is in the TOP 10 most viral Reels ever posted

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Jordi’s work consistently achieves incredible engagement and viral attention. We asked how he approaches the creative process to ensure his content stands out in today’s saturated digital world.

“Our approach to the creative process starts with the everyday, seeking beauty in the ordinary. From the beginning, we began using daily objects (from water bottles to book pages) looking for new perspectives that would bring a touch of visual magic. Simplicity, accessibility, and creativity are our pillars, allowing us to create content that is not only visually impactful but also easy to understand and replicate. This approach ensures our work resonates on social media, thanks to our followers who help us organically viralize this content,” responded Jordi.

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Jordi’s innovative approach to photography involves utilizing everyday objects and environments in unexpected ways, turning mundane scenes into captivating works of art

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With over 35 million followers across various platforms, Jordi’s influence is undeniable. We were curious how he maintains authenticity and connects with his audience amid such immense popularity.

Jordi replied: “We try to maintain authenticity by staying true to ourselves and ignoring the pressure that can come with popularity. We consider it key not to fear failure, as failure itself allows us to experiment and innovate. This approach helps us authentically connect with our followers, seeing errors as opportunities for growth and maintaining our essence in everything we do.

Additionally, connecting this question with the previous one, our connection with followers is also based on creating accessible and inspiring content. Our strategy involves offering ideas that can be reinterpreted, always maintaining an open line with our community.”

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The Magic Door video showcases Jordi’s signature style, featuring mesmerizing illusions created using nothing but clever camera angles and precise timing

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Jordi’s work often blurs the lines between art and advertising. He explained how he balances commercial objectives with the artistic vision to create content that resonates with both brands and viewers.

“A large part of our content on networks are commercial campaigns, yet we strive to integrate the products we work with so naturally into our creative work that the commercial element goes unnoticed. By leveraging the resources provided by brands, we transform each project into a new opportunity for creativity, ensuring that our audience’s focus is always on creativity and artistic innovation.”

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As Jordi continues to captivate audiences with his imaginative creations, one thing is certain: his journey is far from over, and the world eagerly awaits the next magical moment he’ll capture

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Looking towards the future, Jordi shared what excites him the most regarding digital marketing and the evolving role of creators like him in shaping consumer culture.

“The future excites us because of the growing potential of social networks as a platform for limitless creativity. The possibility that creators from any part of the world and social status can share their vision with millions of people seems revolutionary to us.

We look forward to seeing how this trend evolves, offering even more opportunities for innovation and collaboration. The role of creators like us in shaping consumer culture becomes increasingly important, challenging established conventions and opening new pathways for creative expression.”

And lastly, Jordi added: “To all our readers, we encourage you to overcome your fears and unleash your creativity. Don’t be afraid to explore new ideas and challenge the conventional; every attempt and error brings you closer to innovation. Your unique vision has the power to inspire change and open new avenues of expression. Dream, experiment, and share what you create with the world.”

Archaeologists have found new cave paintings in Central Europe that suggest photography may be many thousands of years older than previously realised.

It is well known that the whole concept of the camera obscura is ancient. There is evidence from China and elsewhere that suggests that simple pinhole mechanisms were in use in the 4th century BCE. Indeed, the word ‘camera’ is derived from the Latin for chamber; a reference to the darkened chamber that the camera obscura effect requires to work.

Now, however, archaeologists investigating recently discovered cave paintings in the Prvotravanjska Budala cave system in Croatia have unearthed evidence that actual cameras as we would know them were used in pre-history, circa 15,000 BCE.

Given that photography is previously thought to have been developed in the Victoria era, this is a massive shift in our perceptions of the technology.

The paintings, one of which is shown above (and is the first to be released publicly by the research team), show human figures chasing what look to be deer with a large box like structure that has smaller structures on the front and the back. These, the team led by Dr Goran Živojinović, reckon, are a primitive lens and eyepiece.

“Glass would have been beyond the technology of the time, but these scenes seem to be taking place in winter and it is not impossible that carefully shaped ice was used as a lens at the front of a hide-covered box made of wood and reeds to focus the image in a portable camera obscura,” says Dr Živojinović. “The user would have also wanted to line up the objects in question, and so a small structure poking out the back works as a viewfinder.”

The question is why? What would a portable camera obscura show? Some anthropologists point to a desire to capture ‘the essence’ of an animal, but Dr Živojinović’s team reckon they might have been making actual photographs, or something similar, a mind-boggling 17,000 years ago.

“We have been conducting experiments involving urinating on animal skins, and we have found that  if we eat the right food to change the chemical composition of our urine, then at the right temperatures and with a concentrated enough light source we can ‘fix’ the outline of an image on a suitably treated skin. Of course, that involves a long exposure though, so our current theory is that the cave painting represents an idealised scenario and in fact the primitive photographers would have had to rest the apparatus on a rock and point it at a dead deer.”

The team’s findings not only suggest that photography is many thousands of years older than first thought, but also point the way to new, more organic forms of photography that may hold an advantage when it comes to assessing sustainability impacts in future productions.

“We would, of course, use glass instead of ice for the lens, but the main problem at the moment is the urine,” says Dr Živojinović. “Frankly, it smells, and while we have interest from several major camera manufacturers already – and have trademarked the name CaveCam One – until we get hold of a more pleasant smelling liquid, mass production will be difficult.”

T. S. Eliot, London, 1950, Rollie McKenna, gelatin silver print Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center, Vassar College, gift of the artist, © the Rosalie Thorne McKenna Foundation, courtesy Center for Creative Photography, the University of Arizona Foundation.  
” class=”uk-display-block uk-position-relative uk-visible-toggle”> click to enlarge

T. S. Eliot, London, 1950, Rollie McKenna, gelatin silver print Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center, Vassar College, gift of the artist, © the Rosalie Thorne McKenna Foundation, courtesy Center for Creative Photography, the University of Arizona Foundation.

April is the cruelest month / breeding lilacs out of the dead land / mixing Memory and Desire / stirring Dull roots with spring rain.” So begins T. S. Eliot’s all-time poetic banger, “The Waste Land,” which was published in 1922. April’s never been the same.

Vassar alum Rosalie (Rollie) Thorne McKenna (1918-2003) made iconic portraits of artists and writers, including W. H. Auden, Dylan Thomas, Elizabeth Bishop, Alexander Calder, and Sylvia Plath. The exhibition “Making a Life in Photography: Rollie McKenna,” on view through June 2 at the Lehman Loeb Art Center on the Vassar Campus, features over 100 gelatin silver prints made during the artist’s lifetime. Exhibition cocurator Jessica D. Brier provides some context for the Eliot photograph:

“Rollie McKenna described her approach to photographing people as a ‘rebellion against studio photography.’ Rejecting the tradition of making portraits in a blank studio, or adopting her own signature style, McKenna preferred to photograph subjects like T.S. Eliot in their own spaces in an effort to capture the spirit of a creative individual. In 1950, she photographed Eliot at his desk, thumbing through the pages of a book and surrounded by his personal library, looking up at the camera as though by chance. This was one among many assignments photographing writers in the 1950s, McKenna’s bread and butter during those years. During a portrait session, she engaged her subjects in conversation, disarming them with her sense of humor and asking questions to get them talking about their work and passions. This approach produced authentic moments, putting people at ease and making her portraits look effortless.”

On April 4 at 5pm, Brier and fellow curator Mary-Kay Lombino will lead an exhibition tour at the Lehman Loeb Art Center. Vassar.edu/theloeb.

Kua bay hawaii hi-res stock photography and images – Alamy

Kua bay hawaii hi-res stock photography and images – Alamy

Kua bay hawaii hi-res stock photography and images – Alamy

Kua bay hawaii hi-res stock photography and images – Alamy

Kua bay hawaii hi-res stock photography and images – Alamy

Kua bay hawaii hi-res stock photography and images – Alamy

Kua bay hawaii hi-res stock photography and images – Alamy

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