Why DJI is in a Rush to Launch Its New Flagship Drone

DJI has single-handedly proved that they are kings of the drone market. The company had immense success, and its products are no short of being exceptional at the price point they are given. When Sony decided to venture into the same market, they discontinued their drone. There…

The old school Oregon Trail video game is being adapted into an...

The old school Oregon Trail video game is being adapted into an action-comedy movie. “The movie will feature a couple of original musical numbers in the vein of Barbie.” 💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org →

The New Phoblographer Membership is Better Than Ever.

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're offering you now is even better. Don't worry -- if you had a membership, we won't be leaving you behind. It's all based on the website. We'r…

2024 is the Year of the Photography Zine

Let's be frank here: social media can surely help us grow as photographers. But a diet of only social media is like only eating rice and beans. Can you survive on this? Sure. However, you're not going to thrive -- you'll need to find other ways to get all those other vitamins an…

The Best Vintage Film Cameras That You Can Still Buy in 2024

Camera manufacturers are starting to catch on to the idea that some photographers still want the emotive quality of real film. But while brands like Pentax are doing things like launching their first 35mm film camera in 20 years, the range of brand-new film cameras is still quit…

In Training: A Book of Bonsai Photos

I was reminded recently of Stephen Voss’s lovely book, In Training: a book of bonsai photos (Amazon). Voss has a number of bonsai photo prints for sale as well as some videos of bonsai on his blog. This one is of a tree called Goshin, which has been in training since 195…

A very simple little browser game: open the microwave door as close...

A very simple little browser game: open the microwave door as close to the timer hitting 0:00 as you can without the bell dinging. (My best: 9500.) 💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org →

Straight White Male, the Game of Life’s Lowest Difficulty Setting

Using a video game metaphor, John Scalzi explains straight white male privilege for those straight white males who get hung up on the word “privilege”. Dudes. Imagine life here in the US — or indeed, pretty much anywhere in the Western world — is a massive role playing…

The New Rules of Media. “Everything is a personality cult, and maybe...

The New Rules of Media. “Everything is a personality cult, and maybe just a cult. You have to cultivate your own, no matter how small.” (No thank you.) 💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org →

Willem Dafoe interviewed by Matt Zoller Seitz. “If you make it about...

Willem Dafoe interviewed by Matt Zoller Seitz. “If you make it about you, you’re limited. You have to make it about other people and go toward that.” Great stuff in here about the ‘why’ of craft. 💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org →

“ProPublica’s Claim File Helper lets you customize a letter requesting the notes...

“ProPublica’s Claim File Helper lets you customize a letter requesting the notes and documents your insurer used when deciding to deny you coverage.” Greatest nation in the world, etc.

Sally Rooney: When are we going to have the courage to stop...

Sally Rooney: When are we going to have the courage to stop the climate crisis? Multinational corporations are destroying Earth for profit. If we want real change, we have to be willing to threaten those profits.

How Photographers Turn a Social Media Page into a Website

One of the biggest things that I've seen as the Editor in Chief of one of the last standing photography publications is how photographers are choosing to portray themselves. The vast majority of photographers that we feature have websites -- but they don't necessarily update the…

Don’t be a Silly Goose. Get this Lens!

We’re talking about the Tamron 50-400mm! The Tamron Holiday Deals are here. Amongst them are savings on the Tamron 35-150mm f2-2.8 lens for Nikon Z and Sony E mount. This is widely considered their best lens, and often said to be one of the best lenses made in the past few yea…

A thread of some letters people wrote to each other on clay...

A thread of some letters people wrote to each other on clay tablets in Mesopotamia thousands of years ago. “I am the servant of my lord. May my lord not withhold a chariot from me.” 💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org →

What’s The One Thing Only You Noticed?

As you know, I am passionate about sweet things. All different kinds. So imagine my dismay back in 2017 when I discovered the recipe for Heath Bar Klondike had been changed to remove any trace of Heath Bar bits from the Klondike. It wasn’t just one box of Heathless wonders nei…

An analysis of the UX of Lego interface panels. “Armed with 52...

An analysis of the UX of Lego interface panels. “Armed with 52 different bricks, let’s see what they can teach us about the design, layout and organisation of complex interfaces.” 💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org →

nikitonsky is being grumpy

nikitonsky: Do you own this website? Ok #GoogleMaps #Dialog #InvisibleControls

12 Must-Read Queer Photo Books That Will Change Your Perspective About Photography

The contribution of the queer community to photography has been essential in building diverse narratives and techniques. But, despite their immense achievement in the visual arts, their histories have been repeatedly overshadowed or erased. When one views an art form or its hist…

Charles Traub Shares His Holy Grail of Do’s and Don’ts for Emerging Photographers

Often, in photography, we find ourselves at our wit's end. There are so many things that we have to learn, not only about our gear or photography theories but also how to navigate the industry. As a beginner or a serious enthusiast, we may wobble, lose our way, or hit a photogra…

From here to Harrison Bergeron via AirPods and transparency mode

In Kurt Vonnegut’s 1961 sci-fi short Harrison Bergeron (Wikipedia) it is the year 2081 and "everybody was finally equal." Nobody was better looking than anybody else. Nobody was stronger or quicker than anybody else. How? The United States Handicapper General takes care o…

This Photo Book Sparks a Powerful Conversation About Racial Equality

We have been living in the most technologically advanced century, but we seem to have stepped back in time when it comes to conversations about race, justice, and equality. The murder of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, was one of the most significant events that shook up America (…

Adam Ferguson Made One of the Most Powerful Photo Books of 2024

The 'Outback' in Australia is a vast land inhabited by only 5% of the country's 24 million individuals. While seemingly wild and beautiful, the Aboriginal land holds millions of stories, passed from the elders to the next generation, which is now gradually fading away. In the fa…

Making Tea