Camera
Behind the shot: Tambora Sandwich
Today, I’d like to tell you a nice story about mistakes, drone crashes, coincidences and one very cool shoot in which I took a panorama of Tambora Volcano in Indonesia.
Tambora is a volcano on the island of Sumbawa. In 1815, Tambora produced the largest volcanic eruption in recorded human history, which spewed 37-45 cubic kilometers (8.9-10.8 cubic miles) of rock, weighing about 10 billion tons, into the atmosphere. This left a caldera measuring 6-7 km across and 600-700 m (2,000-2,300 ft) deep. The eruption caused a volcanic winter, with 1816 being the second-coldest year in the northern hemisphere since around 1400. Now, doesn’t that sound like something you’d want to visit?
But first, let’s go back in time to a few days after the beginning of my trip to Indonesia in April last year. After taking a few days to do some formalities and get my work permit to allow me to guide my workshop a few weeks later, I used the rest of my time before meeting my participants to do a bit of shooting by myself. I took a short ferry from Bali to the small Penida Island (Nusa Penida), where I settled for a few days in the southwest of the island, where I could shoot some nice beaches with my drone. Unfortunately, this plan went south quickly when I crash-landed my (previously) trusty DJI Mavic II Pro into a tree, followed by it falling to the side of a cliff without any chance of recovering it.
“This plan went south quickly when I crash-landed my (previously) trusty DJI Mavic II Pro into a tree…”
It always hurts losing a drone. Not only are they expensive, but I was now lacking one of the most important tools I have as a nature photographer, and I still had over a month of shooting ahead of me. Luckily, I had invited Noah, one of my workshop participants, to arrive in Indonesia 10 days early to do some shooting together, and he was scheduled to arrive a few days after I lost the drone. I immediately asked Noah for help, and he gladly agreed to have a new drone shipped to him and bring it to me when he arrived. And so, I got a sparkling new Mavic III Classic. The accident and its consequences would greatly affect the upcoming Tambora shoot.
Noah and I traveled to our first shooting location: Moyo Island, specifically the spectacular Mata Jitu waterfall. A short motorcycle trip from our lodge, Mata Jitu is a wonderful gem located in a valley. It boggles the mind to think that in the distant past, people found this waterfall hidden deep in the middle of the jungle without any aids or roads. The waterfall features cascading pools of turquoise water created over the millennia due to the minerals contained in the flowing water.
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Mata Jitu Waterfall. The drone’s stability allowed me to shoot a relatively long exposure while still maintaining sharpness. DJI Mavic III Classic,
F5.6 | 0.6 sec | ISO100 |
Mata Jitu is fed by a beautiful stream, which is so serene that it’s almost always reflective. I took advantage and took an image of the stream and surrounding trees. For a longer exposure, I used an ND filter and a polarizer, which I positioned in a way that didn’t hurt the reflection. The high humidity condensed on my front element, enhancing the magical feeling in the image.
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Canon 5D4, Tamron 24-70mm F2.8 at 52mm
F8 | 15 sec | ISO100 |
After wrapping up the Moyo Island shoot, we took a 2-hour police boat (that’s what we found, don’t judge!) to the main Island of Sumbawa. We spent the night in a local hostel and prepared for the main event: the climb to Tambora.
Tambora Volcano is one of the most famous Indonesian volcanoes and one that produced the largest volcanic eruption in recorded history back in 1810. Before the eruption, it was a conic volcano, standing 4500m above sea level. Today, it’s less than 2500m. Imagine an eruption so monstrous that it exploded through and destroyed 2km of solid rock. If you’re not scared, you’re not imagining hard enough.
Anyway, today the volcano is quite dormant, and you can easily climb up there, even scaling most of the way up with a 4×4, albeit in a crazy, hellish drive. The journey up the volcano begins next to the sea, in comfortable plains, but this quickly changes to denser and denser vegetation and alternating climate zones: fields, rainforest and finally, the barren wasteland you learn to expect when ascending a gigantic monster of a volcano. Our 4×4 was well-suited for the drive but kept overheating, which added some anxiety to the mix.
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| The entrance to Tambora National Park. Now that’s gotta make you feel welcome! |
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| Our 4×4 making its way in the rainforest. |
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| Our Tambora camp. Much better than nothing! |
After finally arriving at camp, we turned in as early as we could since a very early rise was awaiting us. We were up at 2 a.m. to have a quick breakfast and start our climb. The night was rainy, and it wasn’t at all certain we would be able to get up there or even see the landscape, which was a bit discouraging. But the weather gods smiled upon us, and 2 hours’ trailless climb later, we were standing on top of Tambora with plenty of time to go before sunrise. The sky was luckily (and surprisingly) clear.
I hiked around a bit to get behind a large peak on the rim and prepared my drone for liftoff. When I sent it away, I could see a wonderful cloud inversion on the far side of the caldera. Having the Mavic III meant that I had the reception and battery capacity to fly almost 5km (over 3 miles) away and shoot the caldera with the cloud inversion surrounding the drone’s point of view from below. This definitely made the shot and made me feel very lucky to have lost my previous drone, even though I had to go through a lot of stress to get the new one. All is well that ends well.
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“Tambora Sandwich”: 18-image, 3 row panorama
DJI Mavic III Classic, wide-angle converter |
Tambora’s volcanic crater is so gigantic that I had to get creative. I put on the wide-angle lens adapter and positioned the drone in the best vantage point I could find. This meant having the entire bottom of the image filled with the cloud inversion. I then proceeded to shoot a 3-row, 18-image panorama to cover the entire subject (with some margins for error).
Compositionally, it was important to include the clouds on both sides of the crater, as well as the bottom of the image. This is done to show the extent of the cloud inversion, which made even the huge caldera seem relatively small. In addition, note both the large cloud located slightly off-center to the left and the smaller clouds inside the crater. These subjects’ positions in the frame meant I had to have more compositional weight on the bottom right as a counterbalance. Luckily, the cloud inversion was thicker on the right, in addition to the prominence added by the light coming from the right side.
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| Noah and I, tired but satisfied on top of Tambora. Coffee was well-deserved. |
Big thanks to Noah, who not only carried the new drone all the way from the US but also kindly allowed me to use his behind-the-scenes shots after my phone broke down during the trip.
Erez Marom is a professional nature photographer, photography guide and traveler based in Israel. You can follow Erez’s work on Instagram and Facebook, and subscribe to his mailing list for updates and to his YouTube channel.
If you’d like to experience and shoot some of the world’s most fascinating landscapes with Erez as your guide, take a look at his unique photography workshops in Svalbard, Greenland, Madagascar, the Lofoten Islands, Namibia and Vietnam.
Erez also offers video tutorials discussing his images and explaining how he achieved them.
Selected Articles by Erez Marom:
GCCA Concrete in Life 2024/25 photography competition winners
Photo contests typically have some sort of central theme or guiding topic, but that isn’t often centered around a building material. The Concrete in Life contest, however, does just that. Run by the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA), the contest aims to highlight concrete’s beauty and essentiality worldwide. The winners of the sixth annual running of the contest have been announced, having been selected from more than 20,000 entries.
“The stunning images highlight concrete’s positive impact on our lives right across the planet,” said Thomas Guillot, GCCA Chief Executive who helped to judge this year’s competition. “Whether it’s the vital infrastructure such as bridges, railways and roads that we travel along or the homes, offices and schools we inhabit, concrete is a truly versatile material. Our competition gives anyone with a smartphone as well as professional photographers, the chance to show just how essential concrete is to our lives, as well as how beautiful it can be.”
The contest is open to any type of camera, from smartphones to professional equipment. The contest awards an overall winner with a prize of $10,000. There are also four category winners – Urban Design and Use, Concrete Infrastructure, Concrete in Daily Life and Beauty and Design – with one winner per category winning $2,500. Finally, a People’s Choice award winner receives $5,000.
You can see all of the shortlisted winners and learn more about the contest at the GCCA Concrete in Life website.
Concrete in Life Photo of the Year 2024/25: Henrik Hagerup
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Photographer: Henrik Hagerup
Image title: Venice Beach Skating
Image location: Venice Beach, Los Angeles, USA
Description: A magical morning where the skaters work their magic on the concrete rink with the Pacific Ocean as a backdrop, the picture illustrates the professional skater and the little boy who dreams big dreams.
Statement: I am truly honored, overjoyed, and deeply humbled that you have chosen my image as the Overall Winner of the Concrete in Life 2024/25 Competition.
I captured my picture at Venice Beach in Los Angeles, a vibrant destination where people from all over the world come to enjoy the sun, the ocean and not least, the iconic skate park, this vibrant space is a magnet for creativity, where something exciting is always unfolding. When in L.A. I often spend hours here, camera in hand, patiently waiting for the perfect moment to emerge.
From the very start, I noticed a young boy who I instinctively knew could become an essential part of my story. Through this image, I aimed to illustrate how concrete shapes the lives of those who play, dream, and push the limits of possibility. The experienced skater, who has mastered the smooth surface through dedication and skill, stands as an inspiration to the child, whose hopes and ambitions are just beginning to take form.
My image is a tribute to the way concrete, when embraced by creativity and passion, fosters connection, dreams, and boundless potential not just in skate parks, but in communities across the world.
Urban Design and Use winner: Anvar Sadath TA
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Photographer: Anvar Sadath TA
Image title: Urban Flow
Image location: Dubai, UAE
Description: The iconic Burj Khalifa rises above the futuristic skyline, framed by surrounding architectural marvels and concrete curves, all mirrored in the shimmering waters of the city.
Statement: I am honored to be the winner of the Concrete in Life 2025 competition in the Urban Concrete category! My winning photograph captures the dynamic relationship between concrete structures and the vibrant cityscape, reflecting how concrete shapes our urban experiences.
This recognition reinforces my passion for storytelling through photography, and I hope my image inspires others to find beauty in the everyday structures that define our cities. My heartfelt thanks to the GCCA for this incredible honor. I also extend my sincere gratitude to the judges and the entire GCCA team for supporting photographers and celebrating visual storytelling.
Concrete Infrastructure winner: Wentao Guo
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Photographer: Wentao Guo
Image title: Structure as Aesthetics
Image location: Washington D.C. USA
Description: In Harry Weese’s Washington subway station, concrete transcends time and function: its light and shadow align precisely with the motion of countless trains passing through; its rectangular division aesthetically resonates with the sense of security and austerity of the mass transportation station in the United States’ capital city.
Statement: I took this photo at one of the Washington DC subway stations designed by Harry Weese. I was captivated by the moment when the transience of transportation runs into the permanence of concrete. Its obscurity becomes its greatest presence: its functionality, its aesthetic and its enduringness. Concrete is such an essential part of our lives and it constructs so many characters of our built environment. I am very honored to be a winner of the Concrete in Life 2425 competition, having a valuable opportunity to reveal the essence of concrete in our built environment through my lens.”
Concrete in Daily Life winner: Wellington Kuswanto
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Photographer: Wellington Kuswanto
Image title: Daily Life in Bedok Jetty
Image location: Bedok Jetty, Singapore
Description: Bedok Jetty serves as an urban public space in Singapore, offering people a serene retreat for fishing, sport & leisure activities, and scenic waterfront view. Urban public space like this is vital for fostering community engagement, social interaction, and a sense of belonging among people.
Statement: I’m truly thrilled that the judges selected my photo as the winner in the daily life category.
Bedok Jetty holds a special place for me, as I cycle and hang out there every weekend. It inspired me to submit the image of this particular place for the competition, as it showcases a public space made of concrete structure that is actively used by many people engaging in various activities as part of their daily lives
Beauty and Design winner: Artemio Layno
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Photographer: Artemio Layno
Image title: Broken Building
Image location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Description: Valley is a residential and office tower on the Zuidas in Amsterdam. The three towers are respectively 100 metres (north), 66 metres (west) and 76 metres (south) high. The 75,000-square-metre building, which was recently declared the world’s best new skyscraper by the Emporis Awards, stands out in Amsterdam. The construction of Valley took four years, with the first residents and entrepreneurs moving into the building at the end of 2021.
Statement: I am really happy and grateful that my photo is chosen to be a winner of the Concrete in Life 2425 competition. I took the photo at Amsterdam, Netherlands and I was amazed how creative and modern the design of the building is, it looks like it was cut-out and separated in the middle of the main structure, the design is created by a large number of terraces. Concrete is not just used as a necessity in creating structures but it can also be used to showcase artistic works that are amazingly beautiful.
People’s Choice winner: Mohamed Rafi
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Photographer: Mohamed Rafi
Image title: Fluttering Through Life
Image location: Pondicherry, India
Description: When I saw this wall near Pondicherry Beach, I waited for someone to enter the frame. I captured a few casual shots, then this elderly woman walked in. Dressed in a floral outfit with a black shawl, she moved with quiet grace. I clicked my shutter as much as possible, not wanting to miss the moment. For me, it was a powerful intersection of reality and art, symbolizing unseen strength and the beauty of everyday life.
Statement: I am truly honoured to win the People’s Vote Category of the Concrete in Life 2024/25 competition. This photograph, taken in Pondicherry India, captures an everyday moment transformed by art: an elderly woman walking past a mural, unknowingly aligning with its butterfly wings painted in a wall. To me, it symbolizes resilience, unseen beauty, and how our surroundings shape us in ways we don’t always realise. Street photography is about finding meaning in fleeting moments, and I’m thrilled that this image resonated with so many people.
Shortlist: Febina Nabeel
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Photographer: Febina Nabeel
Category: Beauty and Design
Title: Where Nature and Architecture come together!
Image location: Abrahamic Family House, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Description: Abrahamic Family House combines the three Houses of Worship – Eminence Ahmed El-Tayeb Mosque, St.Francis Church and Moses Ben Maimon Synagogue.
The olive tree representing peace and friendship.
Shortlist: Edwin Loyola
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Photographer: Edwin Loyola
Category: Beauty and Design
Title: The Oculus
Image location: New York City, USA
Description: The World Trade Center’s Oculus, designed by the visionary Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, is a triumphant transportation hub that embodies the unbreakable spirit of New York City. Situated in the heart of Manhattan, the Oculus serves as a vibrant gateway to the city, seamlessly connecting millions of people to 12 NYC Transit subway lines, while also offering an unparalleled shopping and dining experience.
Shortlist: Jason Balaba
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Photographer: Jason Balaba
Category: Beauty and Design
Title: Futuristic Ithra Library
Image location: Dhahran, Saudia Arabia
Description: The futuristic design of Ithra Library is inspired by natural, organic shapes, and the building as a whole feels like it is in constant transformation, symbolizing progress and cultural growth.
Shortlist: Ee Long Tan
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Photographer: Ee Long Tan
Category: Concrete in Daily Life
Title: Colorful Stairs
Image location: Batu Caves,Selangor, Malaysia
Description: The most striking thing in the photo is the bright colors of the stairs,red,orange,yellow,green,blue,and purple,with distinct layers,as if a rainbow fell from the sky. These colors not only make the stairs more beautiful,but also give it deeper cultural and religious significance.
Shortlist:
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Photographer: Ricardo Funari
Category: Concrete in Daily Life
Title: Maracanã
Image location: Outside Maracanã stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Description: My eyes were attracted by the curious and funny shadow of the boy playing with his soccer ball projected by the mid-afternoon sun on the concrete floor surrounded by palm trees at Maracanã stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
Shortlist: Shibasish Saha
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Photographer: Shibasish Saha
Category: Concrete in Daily Life
Title: Drying incense sticks
Image location: Hanoi, Vietnam
Description: Quang Phu Cau Incense Village is a picturesque place where vibrant red incense sticks are laid out under the golden sun, creating a surreal scene. The air is filled with a calming aroma as friendly artisans dye and dry the incense with skilled, rhythmic movements. The village buzzes with quiet activity, children's laughter, and the warmth of a timeless Vietnamese tradition. It's a beautiful, unforgettable experience.
Shortlist: Ian Payne
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Photographer: Ian Payne
Category: Concrete Infrastructure
Title: Hyperboloid
Image location: Slough, UK
Description: A beautiful summer’s day with the temperature around 30°C, I did what any sensible person would do, walk around an industrial estate to photograph newly painted concrete cooling towers. The heat shimmered off the tarmac, but the towers stood out, sharp and clean against the sky. Worth the sweat? Absolutely.
Shortlist: Serdar Aydin
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Photographer: Serdar Aydin
Category: Concrete Infrastructure
Title: Varyant
Image location: Izmir, Turkey
Description: In İzmir, Türkiye, buses navigate a winding road called Varyant. This uniquely shaped route, made of concrete and asphalt, might be an uncomfortable ride for passengers, but from above, it offers a stunning view.
Shortlist: Anna Kropf
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Photographer: Anna Kropf
Category: Urban Concrete
Title: Arch_ES_Valencia
Image location: Designed by Santiago Calatrava and Félix Candela. Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe (2000) – an interactive museum of science that resembles the skeleton of a whale.
Description: The City of Arts and Sciences (Valencian: Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències, Spanish: Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias)[a] is a cultural and architectural complex in the city of Valencia, Spain. It is the most important modern tourist destination in the city of Valencia and one of the 12 Treasures of Spain.
Shortlist: Jacob Surland
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Photographer: Jacob Surland
Category: Urban Concrete
Title: Door to the Unknown
Image location: Aalborg, Denmark
Description: I shot this photo in February 2024. It is of a side door to the old power plant Nordkraft (North Power). It is now a recreational and cultural center including a cinema and concert hall. When I was a child, it was the new Power Plant and it was a Monument of the city and the first thing you would see, when driving towards Aalborg. It was a sign that told you, that you were soon home.
| Photo: Dale Baskin |
On a recent trip to Japan, I found myself in one of those situations universally dreaded by travelers: showing up for an international flight with a pocketful of unspent local currency and nowhere to spend it except a duty-free shop. I was swimming in a Scrooge McDuckian sea of unused Yen.
The idea of bringing home yet another Toblerone bar, that triangular brick of duty-free despair, was soul crushing. I desperately searched for something – anything – else to needlessly throw my money at.
Then I saw the Hello Kitty Toy Camera, a small rangefinder-shaped camera complete with an optical viewfinder and removable memory card. You can find these toy cameras all over Japan at stores like Bic Camera, but I never considered buying one until I was in a use-it-or-lose-it cash scenario.
Given the choice of drowning my sorrows in yet another Toblerone bar, snagging a box of Tokyo Bananas or dropping a pocketful of Yen on the Hello Kitty camera, my duty to DPReview came first. Which is why, dear readers, I’m going to tell you about yet another camera you never knew you didn’t want.
Key specifications
- 1.3MP Type 1/10 CMOS sensor (approximately 1.28 x 0.96mm)
- 3.2mm F2.8 fixed-focus lens
- Optical viewfinder
- ISO 100 (fixed)
- Single Micro SDHC card slot
- Video capture (720×480/30p)
- Fake buttons and controls
- Pink Hello Kitty styling
How it compares
It’s hard to find cameras that are directly comparable to the Hello Kitty Toy Camera, so we decided the best course of action would be to compare it to another rangefinder-style camera: the Fujifilm X100VI.
As the table below illustrates, we can make the Hello Kitty camera appear competitive with the more expensive X100VI by picking just the right specs to compare.
| Hello Kitty Toy Camera | Fujifilm X100VI | |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $45 | $1599 |
| Sensor size (crop factor) | 1.25mm² * (27x) |
369mm² (1.53x) |
| Resolution | 1.3MP | 40MP |
| Max aperture | F2.8 | F2 |
| Viewfinder | Optical | Optical |
| Hello Kitty-themed art | Yes | No |
| Trendy color options | Yes | No |
| Fake buttons to look more professional | Yes | No |
| Memory card type | Micro SDHC | UHS-I SD |
| Number of existential mid-life crises induced in the average camera reviewer during testing | 3 | 0 |
| Weight | 18g | 521g |
On paper, both cameras earn superlatives in some areas. While the Fujifilm wins on key specs like sensor size and resolution, it’s hard to ignore the price tag and uber-light weight of the Hello Kitty camera. Along with the fact that the Hello Kitty camera can fit in a real pants pocket, not the ambiguous ‘jacket pocket’ reviewers always talk about.
The number of existential mid-life crises induced in a camera reviewer is a spec that’s often overlooked in reviews. The Hello Kitty camera definitely wins here. As long as we’re clear that by ‘wins’, we mean ‘loses’.
Body and handling
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| Photo: Dale Baskin |
The Hello Kitty camera is a rangefinder-shaped camera with silver-colored top and bottom plates and an optical viewfinder. I call it a ‘rangefinder-shaped’ camera because it’s not actually a rangefinder. But, then again, neither is the Fujifilm X100VI.
You won’t use the viewfinder. It’s either so bad that it makes you dizzy, or it’s a window into 4-dimensional space the human brain isn’t wired to comprehend. Either way, it will drive you to madness.
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The optical viewfinder is a nice touch, but trying to use it will drive you to madness.
Photo: Dale Baskin |
The camera includes two functional controls along with two other controls that are just for show. The On/Off button on the top plate doubles as the shutter button, and the Mode button adjacent to it lets you switch the camera between photo, video and audio recording modes.
The other controls are fake, fooling absolutely no one.
The 3.2mm F2.8 lens, which I’m pretty sure is made of a chunk of polished candy, has ridged edges that beg to be rotated. But trying that would be a mistake as it would break the camera. You just have to embrace it for what it is.
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Here’s a picture of the Hello Kitty camera that better illustrates its size. Yep, it’s that small. Also, that lever on the front is fake.
Photo: Dale Baskin |
Taking photos is best accomplished with a ‘spray and pray’ approach. You point, shoot and hope. I say ‘hope’ because the camera doesn’t actually take a photo of what’s in front of you but something off to one side. It’s like having an integrated AI that guesses what you’re trying to photograph, then fails spectacularly every time.
Image quality
No DPReview camera review would be complete without our studio test scene.
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A quick glance at the studio scene doesn’t reveal anything except digital despair. The camera captures light, but it’s notably short on fine detail. Or any detail. The sensor’s dynamic range can best be described as ‘on’ or ‘off’.
I have to come clean. I didn’t take this photo in our studio because I couldn’t justify the time it would have taken to do so. Instead, I used a life-sized print of the studio scene I keep at home, captured using a $45,000, 150MP Phase One camera. Don’t worry; you won’t be able to tell the difference in the images from the Hello Kitty camera.
For that matter, you probably wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between the real studio scene and an impressionist painting of it.
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The photos from the Hello Kitty camera are so bad as to border on some kind of avant-garde art.
Photo: Dale Baskin |
The one redeeming quality I can see in the images is that they’re so bad as to border on some kind of avant-garde art. They have a certain je ne sais quoi, if the ‘quoi’ is ‘blurry, pixelated and eye watering.’
Video
It’s incredible that this camera even shoots video, capturing 720×480 resolution, which I’m pretty sure is the same resolution my not-inexpensive Panasonic DVX100 vIdeo camera captured about 20 years ago. Though the Panasonic had the advantage of being a 3-CCD system. And having a lens that could fully resolve an image of an avocado.
If your idea of quality video is watching a bootleg copy of the movie ET your parents recorded on network television in 1984, you’ll be delighted with the results.
Conclusion
With my journalistic integrity now hanging by a thread – or a pink piece of yarn – I have to find some way to wrap up this review. My professional reputation is in the hands of an animated cat, and I’m strangely OK with that.
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| Photo: Dale Baskin |
I’m not sure if this camera is a toy or a subtle form of psychological warfare aimed at photographers. I’ve temporarily convinced myself it was a sound purchase, knowing a crushing pink wave of buyer’s remorse will eventually hit me like a pixelated tsunami; after all, this is one of the worst photography products I’ve ever used.
And yet, I have a weird affinity for it.
My six-year-old niece loves using the Hello Kitty camera. So does my cat. But instead of taking photos, he mostly just wants to kill it. I don’t know if he has some kind of Hello Kitty issue he’s working through or if it’s just because cats are basically little killing machines who happen to be cute.
But it does make me wonder if it might actually be possible to put a price on happiness: $45 (plus the cost of therapy).
Sample Gallery
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| Photo: Abby Ferguson |
As Women’s History Month comes to a close, it’s a fitting time to celebrate the incredible contributions of women in photography. Despite gains, women still face significant underrepresentation and inequality in the photography industry. A study by Women Photograph found that in 2023, only 21.5% of front-page images in major newspapers were taken by women. Euro News reported in 2022 that only 15% of professional photographers worldwide are women, even though roughly three-quarters of photography students are women.
We’ve rounded up some outstanding women photographers worth following on Instagram (and beyond). There are, however, countless more, so feel free to share your favorite women photographers in the comments as well.
Lynsey Addario
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Lynsey Addario is a renowned photojournalist whose work has been published in prominent publications like The New York Times, National Geographic, and Time. She documents conflicts, humanitarian crises and women’s issues around the Middle East and Africa, highlighting the human elements of war and crisis. She wrote a New York Times Bestselling memoir in 2025 and has received numerous awards, including a MacArthur fellowship and two Emmy nominations. She was also part of the New York Times team to win a Pulitzer prize for overseas reporting from Afghanistan and Pakistan and holds three Honorary Doctorate Degrees.
Patience Zalanga
Patience Zalanga is a freelance photographer from Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. Her work is documentary in style, and, for the past six years, primarily focuses on capturing social movements across the United States. Zalanga’s images have been featured in Time, The New York Times, NPR, Buzzfeed News and more.
Luisa Dörr
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Luisa Dörr is a Brazilian photographer known for her powerful portraiture and storytelling, which often focuses on themes of femininity, cultural identity and resilience. She has been widely published in outlets such as Time, National Geographic and The New York Times. Additionally, she has received international recognition for her Firsts project with Time magazine, where she photographed 46 trailblazing women and has received numerous awards, including a World Press Photo Award for her series on Falleras.
Cassy Athena
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Cassy Athena is a Los Angeles, California-based photographer renowned for her sports photography, specifically with the NBA. She has captured candid and personal moments of some of the NBA’s biggest stars, including LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry. Her work has been featured in Sports Illustrated, Slam Magazine and Billboard, and she is also a Getty Images contributor. Athena has also collaborated with brands like Nike, Under Armour and Jordan Brand.
Kim Powell
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Kim Powell is an architectural photographer based in Greece. She, along with her partner, Thomas, captures a variety of projects, working with architects, interior designers and home builders. Her imagery is clean and fresh, highlighting the unique characteristics of each space.
Tawni Bannister
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Tawni Bannister is a photographer and director based in Los Angeles and New York. She works across various genres, including commercial, editorial and fashion. Her photographs blend elements of fine art and documentary photography, embracing color and texture to showcase personality. Bannister’s images have been featured in publications like Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar and The New York Times, and she has worked with Allbirds, Allure, Athleta, Climique, J.Crew, Samsung and more.
Jamie Beck
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Jamie Beck is an American photographer, visual artist and author who is currently living and working in Provence, France. She is known for her romantic and expressive style, drawing inspiration from classical art and nature. Her floral still-life images and self-portraits are reminiscent of classical paintings, with rich texture and dramatic light. Beck’s photographs have been featured in Vogue, The New York Times, Fobes, Travel + Leisure and more. She, along with her husband, Kevin Burg, created the Cinemagraph, a hybrid of photography and video.
Emily Maye
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Emily Maye is a photographer and film director known for her narrative-driven approach to capturing athletes. Her images show the humanity behind the athletes’ discipline, focusing on intimate, behind-the-scenes moments rather than traditional action shots. She has photographed Serena Williams, Usain Bolt, Jayson Tatum, Steve Nash and more and has collaborated with Nike, Adidas, Lululemon, Rapha, The North Face, Gatorade and Puma.
Cig Harvey
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Cig Harvey is a fine art photographer, writer and educator. Her imagery is deeply personal and evocative, exploring themes of nature, family, belonging and the passage of time. She is known for her rich use of color and natural light, capturing the magic in the mundane with a dreamlike quality. Harvey has exhibited her work internationally and received numerous awards.
Alison Arena
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Alison Arena is a professional photographer and founder of Ignite Media, a full-service agency. Much of her work is centered around motorsports, creating photographs and videos for clients such as Mazda, Red Bull, Ferrari NA and Wired. She travels around the country to capture IMSA events, the Spec Miata Series, the 24 Hours of Daytona and more.
Emily Howe
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Emily Howe is a Brooklyn-based photographer and award-winning creative. Her photographs span multiple genres, including portraiture, travel and street photography, all with a focus on storytelling. Her work has been featured in Time, NY Mag, Refinery29, Google and Netflix.
Jasmine Quiñones
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Jasmine Quiñones is a Texas-based filmmaker and director. She crafts commercial and narrative film projects with a gritty, documentary-based style. Quiñones often combines sports and urban lifestyle into her projects and has worked with various clients, including Fujifilm, Nike, Ladder and more.
Mykim Dang
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Mykim Dang is a media producer and full stack creator who works across mediums. She is currently the Director of Video and Voices here at Gear Patrol and DPReview, crafting much of the video content that you see on the site and our social media channels. Beyond her video work, she also takes spectacular photos with an eye for storytelling.
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