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There’s the old adage “nobody gets fired for buying IBM”. Or to put it more broadly, “everyone else is doing it.” It’s dispiriting how often this explanation is given as justification for a dubious design decision, from home-page carousels to cookie banners. Nic Ch…

This Will Protect Your Camera Gear

Hey pros! Listen up! Our photography insurance program is designed to be there when photographers really need it! We’re giving you more than the competition can in different ways! Here’s a little-known fact: the warranty of your camera or lens doesn’t necessarily cover wha…

Camp Snap Brought the Look of Old New York With a Special Mod

One of the best things that I love about the Camp Snap community is that so many of them like to make hacks and presets for the camera. It's been a while since I reviewed the original camera, and I've become aware of a whole bunch of new updates via firmware and so much more. Wi…

The Small Stuff: How to Lead a More Gratifying Life by Ian...

The Small Stuff: How to Lead a More Gratifying Life by Ian Bogost. “How modern conveniences not only fail to deliver on their promises but also rob us of small, satisfying tasks and moments that keep us grounded and human.” 💬 Join the discussion on kottke.o…

Apples

This Week in the IndieWeb

December 5-12, 2025 Recent EventsFrom events.indieweb.org/archive: Photo Walk - San Diego Friday, December 12 at 11:00am SAN DIEGO, California: Bea Evenson FountainJoin us for an in-person photo walk in San Diego’s Balboa Park! We'll wander through this beautiful urban cultu…

Reading Phoblographer Can Get Even Better With This

In 2025, we’re trying to get to a minimum of 2,000 subscribers as part of our membership program! Capture One is discounted for members! The New Phoblographer membership is now based on our website. Yes, we moved away from the app. It was a bittersweet move — but what we’r…

How does lake ice do this? Incredible! (Mirror Lake, New Hampshire)...

How does lake ice do this? Incredible! (Mirror Lake, New Hampshire) 💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org →

“Eating the right foods in the proper quantities, 16th-century Britons believed, balanced...

“Eating the right foods in the proper quantities, 16th-century Britons believed, balanced mind and soul. So in Shakespeare’s plays, roasts, ales, and pies are not props, but clues to characters’ souls, moods, and motivations.” 💬 Join the discussion on k…

This Is Why Everyone Is a DJ Now

I guess this is as good an explanation of contemporary culture as anything. Hungover from a world that told us we could be anything, we decided to be DJs. We don’t create our own music. We curate playlists, recirculating songs that will make people think we’re cool. And w…

The Flow State podcast recently celebrated their 300th episode with a 2h41m...

The Flow State podcast recently celebrated their 300th episode with a 2h41m mix of instrumental music sourced from a group of “musicians, curators, label heads, music fans”. They even let me pick a song. 💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org →

X-Ray Visions

I first posted about Nick Veasey’s work back in 2005 and thought it was worth another look. Veasey uses x-ray photography to get inside views of familiar objects, sometimes on a large scale. And here’s a peek behind-the-scenes at his process, which includes, criti…

The 4 Prime Full Frame Lenses Under $250 Every Photographer Should Own

When one thinks of purchasing a lens, they look for offerings that provide good image quality, a decent build, weather sealing, and fall within their budget range. However, many young photographers do not want to invest in really expensive optics, as they are running short on ca…

Oilwell is a (fake) wellness app “to help you embrace climate chaos”...

Oilwell is a (fake) wellness app “to help you embrace climate chaos” that includes features like “Drowning Mindfully”, “Lo-Fi Beats to Frack To”, and “12 Hour Wildfire Relaxation”. 💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org →

nikitonsky is being grumpy

nikitonsky: Just when I thought it was impossible to make a placeholder-that-turns-into-a-label any dumber, Airbnb proved me wrong. #Focus #TextInput #Placeholder #AirBnB

Is Leica Developing a New Full Frame Camera?

Leica Camera AG has developed some exciting models over the years. The company's M lineup, for instance, is designed for purists, while the Q series caters to those who prefer high-end compact cameras. Then they have recently introduced the SL series, which is designed for photo…

I just updated the 2025 Kottke Gift Guide with some new suggestions,...

I just updated the 2025 Kottke Gift Guide with some new suggestions, including inflatable tube men (for your front yard; your neighbors will love!), some of the year’s best cookbooks, ramen kits from Japan, and some low- of no-spend gifts.

The US Downgraded in Civic Freedoms Rating

Civicus monitors the health of civic societies and their freedoms around the world. In their annual assessment on civic freedoms for 2025, they downgraded the United States from “narrowed” to “obstructed”. The CIVICUS Monitor has downgraded the United States of Americ…

Post-Japan Depression. “People feel it after coming home from a trip that...

Post-Japan Depression. “People feel it after coming home from a trip that feels magical, safe, clean, punctual, aesthetic, peaceful… and suddenly — boom — back to reality.” (Not sure if this person is kidding but yep! 💯🎯) 💬 Join the discussion o…