Is Canon Developing New Wide Angle Lenses For Professionals?

Canon has some extraordinary cameras and lenses in this vast portfolio. The company has launched models such as the 5D series and the 1DX series, as well as popular lenses such as the Canon EF 16-35mm f4L IS USM and Canon EF 85mm f1.4L IS USM. With the new mirrorless mount, the…

1787: “Caroline Lucretia Herschel became the first woman to receive a salary...

1787: “Caroline Lucretia Herschel became the first woman to receive a salary as a scientist and hold a government position in the UK.” 2025: “Professor Michele Dougherty CBE FRS FRAS became the first woman appointed Astronomer Royal in the UK.” 💬 Join t…

Two Ways To Film The Same Scene

In a review of City of Angels, the 1998 Hollywood remake of Wings of Desire by Wim Wenders, Roger Ebert says: To compare the two films is really beside the point, since “Wings of Desire” exists on its own level as a visionary and original film, and “City of Angels” ex…

Two of the most promiscuous snack brands, Oreo and Reese’s, are teaming...

Two of the most promiscuous snack brands, Oreo and Reese’s, are teaming up to bring the eating public two new treats: the Oreo Reese’s Cookie and Reese’s Oreo Cups. 🫱 Is this… 🦋 innovation? 💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org →

The Rule of Law Is Dead in the US. “I did not...

The Rule of Law Is Dead in the US. “I did not write an ‘end of term’ Supreme Court review piece this year because… what’s the point? [Critiquing individual cases] feels like a guy on the Titanic complaining about the song selection from the band.”

How to Upload an Image to a Bird

Entertaining YouTuber Benn Jordan built a setup to record and analyze bird sounds, songs, and calls. He used it to record a starling who has mastered mimicking all sorts of manmade and artificial sounds in its environment, including things like the default iPhone camera shutte…

Motherfucking windfarms. In Europe, they’re called Royale with Breeze. (I stole that...

Motherfucking windfarms. In Europe, they’re called Royale with Breeze. (I stole that joke from Bluesky.) 💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org →

Always Stand on the Side of the Egg

In 2009, novelist Haruki Murakami controversially accepted the Jerusalem prize for the Freedom of the Individual in Society in the aftermath of Israeli military action in Gaza. In his acceptance speech, he related a story about something he keeps in mind while writing: “Betwe…

Forthcoming book from Bill McKibben: Here Comes the Sun. “Energy from the...

Forthcoming book from Bill McKibben: Here Comes the Sun. “Energy from the sun and wind is suddenly the cheapest power on the planet and growing faster than any energy source in history — if we can keep accelerating the pace, we have a chance.” 💬 Join the…

Bill McKibben: Rooftop Solar Is a Miracle. Why Are We Killing It...

Bill McKibben: Rooftop Solar Is a Miracle. Why Are We Killing It With Red Tape? In many countries, getting rooftop solar or “balcony solar” can be as easy going to the store, buying some panels, and plugging them in. In the US, it’s not so easy.

Sony Conquers China, Where is Canon?

The battle over which is the best-selling camera manufacturer is as old as the companies themselves. While today we have a few monopolies, the struggle between them has not really ended. In fact, even today, each manufacturer tries to win the crown at various award shows to show…

Rebecca Solnit: The renewable energy revolution is a feat of technology. “It...

Rebecca Solnit: The renewable energy revolution is a feat of technology. “It is nothing less than astonishing and unbelievable that we have achieved so much progress in so little time.”

The End of America as a Center of Science

Ross Anderson writes about how scientific empires, from the ancient Sumerians to the Nazis to the Soviet Union in the 1950s, have crumbled (or been willfully dismantled by ideologues) and the clear signs that the same thing is happening here in the United States under the conser…

Side effect of the Tour de France: pro riders gobbling up all...

Side effect of the Tour de France: pro riders gobbling up all the Strava top times (King of the Mountains) across France: “1,809 KOMs nabbed by the pros during the three weeks of racing”. 💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org →

How conspiracy theories about COVID’s origins are hampering our ability to prevent...

How conspiracy theories about COVID’s origins are hampering our ability to prevent the next pandemic. “Evidence hasn’t emerged” to support that idea that SARS-CoV-2 originated in a laboratory. Here’s what the evidence says.

5 Photography Techniques That Make Every Shot Count

Photography techniques have helped myriad image-makers find their footing in a highly competitive world. Some have figured this out early in their careers, while others have to wait and find out later. Either way, we bring to you a few photography techniques that can help you if…

Panasonic Could Make One of the Best Full Frame Compacts. Here’s How

Just the other day, I was talking about how awesome the Panasonic LUMIX S9 is with staffer Alberto Lima. We both agree that if you're looking for a small, full-frame camera that it's hard to beat. It dawned on me that Panasonic also hasn't made any sort of larger-sensor compact…

4 Best Street Photography Cameras the Pros Will Love

A good camera is the most important tool for a street photographer, as it is equipped with a good lens. Street photography is another genre where a good camera can do wonders. However, for most image-makers in this genre, a camera also helps them conceal where they are to get so…

Sigma 300-600mm f4 DG OS Sports Review: Best With High Megapixels

If you're the type that loves to go birding, then you've probably got a small stable of lenses that you want to choose from. With that, the Sigma 300-600mm f4 DG OS Sports is most likely an option that you'd want to consider, but also know that it's very pricey. This is a lens t…

The Wirecutter’s list of the best canned cocktails. Very interested to hear...

The Wirecutter’s list of the best canned cocktails. Very interested to hear people’s thoughts on this. None of these are available at my local liquor store, but we do have Barr Hill’s canned G&T, which is the best canned cocktail I’ve ever tasted. 💬…

How to Leave Substack. “Unfortunately, Substack willingly platforms, and allows bad actors...

How to Leave Substack. “Unfortunately, Substack willingly platforms, and allows bad actors to monetize, hate speech and misinformation. You should probably leave Substack.”

“Israel has deliberately starved the people of Gaza. It couldn’t have done...

“Israel has deliberately starved the people of Gaza. It couldn’t have done it without the west’s help. The current hand-wringing by Keir Starmer and other western politicians is empty bluster. They knew what was happening all along.”

Photos: Starvation and Chaos in Gaza. “Israel’s blockade of most food and...

Photos: Starvation and Chaos in Gaza. “Israel’s blockade of most food and aid, along with distribution difficulties inside the Gaza Strip, have driven many of Gaza’s 2 million Palestinians to the brink of starvation.”

A compilation of super hero landings from the Marvel Cinematic Universe....

A compilation of super hero landings from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. 💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org →

Bad Map Projection: Interrupted Spheres

7 Proven Ways to Secure Your Digital Images

Taking care of your data can be daunting. What if you lose your images due to corruption? What if the card doesn't read? Even with cloud service in place, one still can't upload all the material, especially if one is working from remote locations. Since taking care of digital pi…

Covid safety measures drastically reduced flu deaths, but the fatality rate has...

Covid safety measures drastically reduced flu deaths, but the fatality rate has risen sharply again. “90% of reported pediatric deaths this season have occurred in children who were not fully vaccinated against influenza”.

Weird & Wonderful Historical Photos From the 20th Century

From Alan Taylor at The Atlantic, whose curatorial eye I’ve always admired, “a grab bag of curious and interesting historical images from the 20th century”, including photos of the world’s largest banjo, diving archery, death-defying photography, and underwater allig…