A leopard stands on a forest path surrounded by dense greenery. Beside it, a smaller wildcat with a gray coat and white markings stands on the forest floor, also looking toward the camera. Photographer Places Camera Traps Deep in African Rainforest
View from space showing Earth’s curved horizon with glowing red and green atmospheric layers, starry background, and city lights; on the right, colorful clouds and auroras light up the planet’s edge. The Best Photos Taken by Astronaut Don Pettit on His Most Recent Space Mission
A boy with amputated arms sits in shadow on the left; on the right, a journalist in a helmet and vest stands amid rubble and destroyed cars in a war-torn urban area. Palestinian Photojournalist Wins World Press Photo of the Year 2025

Spotlight

Cameras are great, but it’s what is done in photography with that technology that really matters. To that end, PetaPixel regularly shines a Spotlight on the incredible photos and videos created by talented artists from around the world.
Jeremy Gray
Left: A fluffy emperor penguin chick stands beside an adult. Right: Many adult emperor penguins huddle closely together, their bodies dusted with frost, to stay warm in the cold.

Wildlife Filmmaker Explains What It’s Like Filming Penguins in -50° Weather

National Geographic's new three-part documentary, Secrets of the Penguins, premiered last Sunday and enchanted viewers with, as its name suggests, incredible footage of penguins. The series, produced by James Cameron and led by Nat Geo Explorer and award-winning filmmaker Bertie Gregory required an incredible 274 days of filming in extreme environments. The three-person overwintering crew included wildlife filmmaker Helen Hobin, who spoke with PetaPixel about the experience.

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 three-panel image: a chimpanzee in a zoo enclosure, Moroccan horsemen charging with lances, and skateboarders performing tricks at a skatepark at sunset.

The Wonderful Winners of the Sony World Photography Awards 2025

The World Photography Organization announced the overall winners of the prestigious Sony World Photography Awards 2025 at the annual awards gala at Somerset House in London. British photographer Zed Nelson is "Photographer of the Year 2025" for his incredible series, The Anthropocene Illusion.

Jeremy Gray
Left side: A mountain goat grazes in a vibrant alpine meadow with flowers, overlooking a lake and rugged mountains under a clear sky. Right side: Three whales swim gracefully in deep blue ocean water, viewed from above.

‘Nat Geo Your Shot’ Celebrates Your Best Landscape and Wildlife Photos

National Geographic has long been known for its incredible photography, with professional photographers frequently capturing powerful, visually striking photos that are as artistically incredible as they are culturally impactful. While the magazine covers and pages are reserved for the pros, the "Nat Geo Your Shot" puts the spotlight on everyone else.

Matt Growcoot
A person holds a giant light blue sneaker with a blue swoosh. To the right, two mannequins, dressed in athletic wear, are on treadmills in a metallic lab environment.

Surreal Photos Taken Inside the Sprawling Nike Factory

Photographer Alastair Philip Wiper is no stranger to entering spaces rarely seen by others -- having previously visited a cryogenic chamber and a doomsday underground house. Wiper continued his modus operandi of taking viewers inside restricted locations when he was invited to document the inside of Nike.

Jeremy Gray
A collage with four images: two people with textured cards obscuring faces, a diverse group of people marching in a forest, hands reaching out to touch, and a close-up of two people embracing affectionately.

How Four Award-Winning Women Change the World Through Photography

On March 8, International Women's Day, Leica announced the four winners of its annual Leica Women Foto Project Award. Each woman's award-winning project demonstrates the power of visual storytelling and exemplifies this year's competition theme, unity through diversity. PetaPixel spoke to each winning photographer to learn more about their work.

Kate Garibaldi
Two contrasting images side by side: Left shows a person silhouetted against a fiery volcanic eruption with orange and gray smoke. Right depicts a person in a white dress inside an icy blue cave, admiring the intricate formations.

Photographer’s Beautiful Self-Portraits Embrace Volcanoes and Glaciers

Anna Isabella Christensen is a professional photographer whose self-portraits reflect an intimate connection between human beings and nature. Her work embraces nature in its purest forms, whether peaceful and calm, like when she works alongside glaciers, or powerful and violent, like when shooting during storms or near volcanoes.

Jeremy Gray
On the left, an owl with outstretched wings flies through a forest. On the right, another owl perches on a tree branch, illuminated by warm light against a background of dark foliage.

How Photographers Celebrated Flaco the Owl’s Year of Freedom

The Eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo bubo) Flaco escaped from his longtime enclosure in New York City's Central Park Zoo in February 2023, attracting many admirers and enchanting millions. While his life was ultimately cut short a year after his escape, Flaco left a lasting impact on many, including enthusiastic birders and photographers Jacqueline Emery and David Lei, who celebrate Flaco's journey in the form of their book, Finding Flaco: Our Year With New York City's Beloved Owl.