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.
Jeremy Gray
A woman and a man run side by side down a long, narrow hallway with pale walls and red lights on the ceiling, creating a dramatic and urgent atmosphere.

How Cinematographer Jessica Lee Gagné Crafted the Look of ‘Severance’

Apple TV's hit series Severance is celebrated for its engaging story, incredible acting performances, and striking visuals. PetaPixel spoke with Severance cinematographer Jessica Lee Gagné, one of the masterminds behind the show's eye-catching aesthetic, clever camera shots (like the iconic elevator transition zoom dolly sequence), and, as of season two, direction as well.

Joshua Holko
A helicopter hovers low above a snowy landscape, stirring up a cloud of snow. A polar bear is visible on the ground amidst the blowing snow.

The Disturbing Double Standard for Polar Bear ‘Protection’ in Svalbard

There have been increasingly absurd regulations being imposed on visitors to Svalbard in recent years, particularly surrounding the protection of polar bears. One of the most contentious of these mandates is the requirement to maintain a minimum distance of 500 meters from a polar bear (about five American football fields), no matter the circumstance.

Jeremy Gray
Two vintage photos: on the left, three women in kimonos sit on a bench under blossoming trees; on the right, a traditional Japanese temple stands among trees on a hillside.

19th Century Photos Showcase Japan’s Timeless Beauty

A new video by VX52 Movies on YouTube showcases some of the oldest photos taken in Japan. Captured from 1857 through 1925, the old photos are a brilliant time capsule of Japan as it rapidly and dramatically changed during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Jeremy Gray
A split image: on the left, a close-up of a colorful crystal formation viewed through a magnifying lens; on the right, a person works with scientific equipment in a laboratory filled with tools and devices.

NASA Astronaut Don Pettit Uses His Camera for Science in Space

NASA astronaut Don Pettit, known for his incredible astrophotography, sense of humor, and clever camera contraptions, is scheduled to return to Earth this month after a seven-month mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Before leaving space, Pettit shared some of the awesome science he has done as part of Expedition 72.

Jaron Schneider
A Nikon digital camera covered in dirt and debris, with mud on the lens cap and body, sits on a white surface. The camera appears weathered and likely found outdoors.

Nikon Camera Buried for 7 Years Reunited With Its Owners

This week, a Nikon camera was found buried in the ground near a footpath on the Isles of Scilly. After checking the SD card, it was estimated to have been lost somewhere between 2017 and 2018. After publishing a few of the photos on Facebook, the owner was found just a day later.

Jeremy Gray
Sunset view of a mountain landscape with snow-capped peaks, tall evergreen trees, a grassy hillside, and a rustic building in the foreground. The sky is clear with a soft, pinkish glow.

How a Photographer Built the Most Realistic Photography Video Game

Photographer turned game developer Matt Newell's brand new video game, Lushfoil Photography Sim, released today on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. It is a beautiful, brilliant video game, and the most realistic photography game ever. PetaPixel chatted with Newell about his inspiration for Lushfoil, how he built it, and what he hopes the game offers photographers and traditional gamers alike.

Jeremy Gray
Two images of a Piranha Plant lamp, styled like the Super Mario character. The plant emerges from a green pipe base labeled "NINTENDO SWITCH." One image shows the plant with its mouth closed, and the other with its mouth open.

The Piranha Plant, Frequent Mario Foe, Is Now a USB-C Camera for Switch 2

During this week's Nintendo Direct, the popular video game company unveiled many new features of its upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 gaming console, including that it will use the maligned SD Express memory card format and work with many USB-C cameras, not just the official Nintendo one the company will sell as an optional accessory. This has opened the gates for some fun new USB-C cameras, including Hori's adorable licensed Piranha Plant one.

Jeremy Gray
A person digitizes old photo slides. On the left, hands hold a slide over a backlit surface showing multiple slides. On the right, a camera is mounted above, aligned to capture the images.

Magnum is Digitizing Its Color Photo Archive with the Fujifilm GFX 100 II

Magnum Photos is working closely with Fujifilm and MPP (Heritage and Photography Library of Paris / Médiathèque du Patrimoine et de la Photographie) to digitize Magnum's massive color library archive in Paris. The collection contains approximately 650,000 color slides that have remained mostly untouched and unseen for over 20 years.

Matt Williams
A woman in a long, dark gown stands with one foot on a table, holding a gun. A man lies face down on the floor with another gun beside him. A bottle and glass are on the table. The image has a vintage, noir style.

This 1940s Photo Was Made to Defy Hollywood Self-Censorship Rules

The Motion Picture Production Code, more commonly referred to as the Hays Code, was one of the most influential forces shaping Hollywood’s Golden Age. Created to uphold moral standards in cinema, the Code governed what could and could not be shown on screen for over three decades. Yet, as restrictive as it was, resistance to its rules surfaced even from within the industry itself.