Culture

Photography is about far more than capturing an image. How photos are shared and what social issues are impacting the profession are just as important. PetaPixel regularly covers the stories around the culture of photography, how it affects society, and what cultural changes affect the art.
A collage of three photos: a young man wearing large sunglasses, a blurry black-and-white self-portrait with a camera, and a close-up of two young men with serious expressions in black and white.

Paul McCartney’s Photos Show Beatlemania From the Inside

The Frist Art Museum is set to exhibit Paul McCartney Photographs 1963–64: Eyes of the Storm, a newly discovered collection of images taken by McCartney during the early surge of Beatlemania, offering a personal glimpse into the band’s rapid rise to global fame through nearly 300 intimate photographs.

Two women in neon swimsuits and futuristic glasses pose on a beach at sunset. Beside them, a woman with glowing red eyes and metallic arms stands topless, with a black bar covering her chest, against a dark, glowing background.

xAI’s Grok AI Lets Users Create ‘Spicy’ NSFW Images and Videos

Long before Elon Musk bought Twitter and rebranded it to X, the platform was known for allowing users to post a wide range of explicit content. Under Musk's anti-censorship stewardship, the social media platform has only become more of a Wild West. xAI's new Grok Imagine AI image and video generator is poised to take that reputation even further, and the alarm bells are already sounding.

A white instant camera with rainbow stripes is shown next to a developed instant photo of a baseball game on a stadium field. The camera and photo are on a plain white background.

AP Photographer’s Polaroids Perfectly Capture Baseball’s Nostalgic Spirit

No sport is wrapped up in as much history in the U.S. as baseball. What better way to capture baseball's nostalgic spirit than with Polaroid pictures? That's precisely what Associated Press photographer Erin Hooley did for the recent "Crosstown Classic" in Chicago, a clash between the city's two MLB teams, the Cubs and the White Sox.

The image shows the Flickr logo with the word "flickr" in lowercase letters; "flick" is in blue and the "r" is in pink on a white background.

You Must Now Be 18 Years Old To Create a New Flickr Account

Flickr has made some rather dramatic changes to the photo-sharing site in response to new safety standards put in place by the United Kingdom. While some of the new rules only affect citizens of the UK, the website is now acting like an adult website: in order to create an account, new users must be 18 years of age or older.

A young person wearing a cap and camouflage jacket looks down while holding a toy or replica rifle, standing in a dimly lit area with blurred lights in the background.

A Photojournalist Took a Fujifilm Instax Camera to a Mexican Cartel Wedding

Mexican-born American photojournalist Henry Craver recently traveled to Michoacán, Mexico, a region controlled by organized crime, to document life with his film cameras. However, after running out of film, he boldly took a Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 camera to a wedding and photographed gun-toting cartel members. A bizarre juxtaposition -- instant film and organized crime -- Craver returned home to New Jersey with spectacular photos and an even more exciting story.

A young boy with blue eyes sits under a blanket, illuminated by the light from a smartphone or tablet he is holding, staring intently at the screen in a dark environment.

Scientists Call for Ban on Social Media and Smartphones Before Age 13

A global, wide-reaching study has revealed that receiving a smartphone, and then using it to access social media, before the age of 13 is directly associated with poor mental health outcomes in young adulthood, specifically among young women. The results are so alarming that the researchers are calling for a global ban on them before a person reaches the age of 13.

A hand with a tattoo holds a Polaroid camera printing a photo of a smiling person. Blue handwritten text on the left reads, “The camera for an analog life.”.

Polaroid Aims to Capitalize on Growing Demand for Photographic Authenticity

In an age increasingly dominated by artificial intelligence, endless scrolling, and digital fatigue, Polaroid is making a stand. The company’s newest marketing campaign, “The Camera for an Analog Life,” signals more than just the launch of its newest instant camera, the Polaroid Flip; it reflects and aims to monetize a broader cultural pushback against the ubiquity of screens and the exhaustion that comes with them.

A hand holding a smartphone displaying the TikTok logo, with a blurred United States flag in the background.

TikTok Is Reportedly Making a US-Specific Version of Its App

A little over a week after U.S. President Donald Trump told Fox News that a group of "very wealthy people" would buy TikTok from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, a new report suggests that TikTok is developing a new version of its app specifically for users in the United States.

Three smartphones display an astronomy app interface, each showing vibrant images of nebulae, star details, and user comments against a dark background. The screens highlight colorful space photography and app features.

Picastro Is Social Media for Astrophotographers

Astrophotographers are a passionate bunch, and they now have a new dedicated social media and web platform to share their work, find inspiration, and learn how to improve their craft. Picastro is all about showcasing genuine astronomy images from astrophotographers worldwide, whether they are beginners or seasoned pros.

A book titled "100 Leica Stories" with a black cover featuring monochrome, partially visible images of three people, including one holding a camera, against a plain background.

Leica Marks 100 Years of Its Most Iconic Moments With New Photobook

Leica, a name synonymous with photographic excellence, marks a monumental milestone this year, celebrating 100 years of innovation, craftsmanship, and artistry. To honor this enduring legacy, the new book "100 Leica Stories" offers an extensive look into the history, culture, and unparalleled impact of the Leica camera.