A lot has been happening on the AI front this week, with Adobe releasing a slew of AI updates to Photoshop, driven by the latest version of its Firefly generative tool. For deputy editor Geoff Harris, it’s all getting a bit sci-fi. So to recap, this week’s Photoshop updates seem mainly aimed at people who need to generate an illustration quickly as they sit there in front a blank screen – a cure for ‘designer’s block,’ in other words. Take one of Adobe’s examples. Say you wanted a picture of a guitar-playing bear in front of a campfire (well, it’s possible…) Type in a prompt, and Photoshop/Fir ..read more

Mint’s upcoming 35mm full-frame film camera, the Rollei 35AF, will be accompanied by a 5-element all glass lens with coatings on every side and a 35mm focal length, which is often a popular choice among street photographers. It will be priced around $650-$800 (around £520-£640). The camera will also have a metal body and the following aperture options: F2.8, F4, F5.6, F8, F11 and F16. Additionally, the Rollei 35AF features an ‘exposure’ dial, a built-in light meter and an AUTO mode. Credit: Mint. Interested? You can join a waitlist and see more product images and sample images on the Rollei ..read more

Flash photography is widely accessible thanks to built-in pop-up flash in modern cameras and the availability of Speedlite flashes with TTL auto exposure. Ian Pack is your guide. Learning how and when to use flash is an important part of mastering light, particularly when it comes to portraits. Ian Pack shares an insight into flash and his tips for using it in your photography: Pop-up flash Pop-up flash direct Many crop-sensor DSLR and mirrorless cameras have a pop-up flash on top of the camera. This is either not used by some or little by others. Used with care it can be used outdoors to fi ..read more

Viltrox has announced the Viltrox AF 40mm F2.5 Z, another lens in their expanding range of budget lenses. It is available for Nikon Z-mount only and at just $158 (around £126) it is around half the price of the Nikkor Z 40mm F2, which is among Nikon’s cheapest lenses for Z-mount at £259. As a lightweight lens with 40mm focal length covering full-frame mirrorless cameras, Viltrox describes the lens as ideal for daily shooting and travel. It follows the release of the Viltrox AF 56mm F1.7 portrait lens, also a budget option at only $139 (around £110). Viltrox AF 40mm F2.5 Z. Credit: Viltrox. V ..read more

We’ve teamed up again with the world’s leading photo game GuruShots to showcase the winning images from the Tell a Story challenge. By competing in epic photography challenges against millions of photographers, you can get instant feedback and exposure from over three billion monthly votes and increase your ranking from Newbie to achieve the ultimate status (and bragging rights) of Guru. Congratulations to those photographers who have made it to the top voted photos. To find out more, and to sign up and take part in the next challenge, visit www.gurushots.com Top Photographer Xavier Boulenge ..read more

Beginners guide on how to use a camera and take better photos If you’re new to photography and have invested in a new camera, then have hope not fear: we all start somewhere. We have plenty of quick hints and tips to share that will help you get better, sharp blur-free photos, as well as guide you on some of the important first things you need to know about cameras. If you aren’t already, it’s worth being familiar with the main camera types, and the different lens types available. We are talking about digital cameras here – there are four essential components for a digital camera to work. Thes ..read more

Leica Gallery, London, presents the exhibition Simon Wheatley: Silverlink. The exhibition will show 21 of Wheatley’s images from the series Silverlink, all shot with the Leica M system and exclusively printed for Leica Gallery London for the first time. You can visit the exhibition from the 17th May – 21st July 2024. From Leica Gallery: From the 17th of May to the 21st of July 2024, Leica Gallery London presents an exhibition by London-based photographer, Simon Wheatley. Simon Wheatley is a London-based photographer that has become increasingly renowned for his raw and intimate photographic po ..read more

Photoshop remains one of the most popular programs in the world for editing images, available with Lightroom as part of the montly Photography Plan. With the Adobe MAX conference taking place in London, Adobe has added to the AI options in the latest beta version of Photoshop, delivered via the new version 3 of its Firefly AI vehicle. This latest batch of AI updates appear to be mainly aimed at Photoshop users bereft of inspiration when they open a new document and sit in front of a computer staring at a blank screen. The Generative Image text to image tool, for example, enables you to create ..read more

Amateur Photographer verdictThe Polaroid Go Generation 2 is a tiny camera that mostly gives detailed and bright images. Pros Mostly gives bright, detailed images Tiny size Good value for money Self-timer and double exposure capabilities USB-C charging Cons Not great low light performance, even when flash is on Film is relatively expensive No Macro/Close-up mode The Polaroid Go Generation 2 is an update on the Polaroid Go Generation 1. The new camera comes with a larger aperture lens, as well as a more ‘precise’ light sensor for clearer and brighter images. It also has updated firmwar ..read more

Amateur Photographer verdictThe GoPro HERO12 Black creates some well-lit, great looking footage. Plenty of features and stabilisation that is second to none. Pros Well priced Portrait video recording for social media Lots of shooting modes and features available Hardy design and build Cons Overheats with a lot of use Not really an upgrade on HERO11 Poor low-light performance Mediocre battery when shooting continuously The GoPro HERO12 Black is GoPro’s latest addition to its action camera line-up. Notoriously well-known as the market leader in ready for anything, well-built cameras, G ..read more