In a massive international study, researchers identify four precise warning signs of a heart attack, stroke or heart failure, and understanding these measurable risk factors could help people understand their vulnerabilities long before a health event.

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Category: Heart Disease, Illnesses and conditions, Body and Mind

Tags: American College of Cardiology, Heart attack, Stroke, Smoking, Blood Pressure, blood-glucose, Cholesterol, Cardiovascular disease

Honda’s adventure scooter, the X-ADV, has been such a success that it inspired Honda to launch a bigger, better successor in the form of the ADV350. In fact, European riders have embraced it so strongly that it became Europe’s best-selling scooter over 300cc for two years running.

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Category: Motorcycles, Transport

Tags: Honda, Honda Motorcycles, Scooter, Adventure Bikes, Off-road, urban transport

Autonomous fighter planes are popping up all over the place these days as more air forces opt for pilotless loyal wingmen. The latest example is Europe's version, the multi-role Helsing CA-1 Europa, which has just made its public debut.

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Tags: Aircraft, drones, Europe

Go Tokura, Executive Vice President, Head of Imaging Group, Chief Executive of Imaging Business Operations

Photo: Richard Butler

Full disclosure: I've just returned from a trip to Japan paid for by Canon. Our usual policy is that we only attend these trips if a product is being launched, and being present is the only way to get access to those new products.

And, when we accepted this invitation, we hoped that would be the case. But as the trip got closer, we were told the intention of the trip was that the small group of US camera writers and YouTube presenters present would "get to know" Canon, its culture and philosophy. By the time this became clear, the tickets had been booked.

I can see why they felt this was necessary. From the outside, Canon can seem quite staid and corporate, even by comparison with the other large corporations that make up much of the rest of the camera market. I suspect most people see them make sensible, pragmatic products - frequently criticized for their seemingly ruthless market segmentation, and omitting features from one model to 'protect' another - they're not in the habit of issuing community enthusing, feature-adding firmware, and their dominant market position makes them easy to look at them as the 'obvious' option, rather than the cognoscente's considered choice.

But getting to know some of the people behind the name, and hearing the enthusiasm with which they talk about cameras, lenses and photography did change the way I thought about the brand.

I walked away with the impression of a company that operates in a constant tension between conservatism and innovation. A large, formal corporation made up of people fascinated by photography, constantly trying to innovate and improve things. The seed of this impression was planted right from the opening speech by Go Tokura, Executive Vice President at Canon and head of its Imaging Group.

Tokura spoke fondly of the many cameras developed during his time at the company, but drew particular attention to the T90, one of the company's last FD-mount manual focus SLRs. It was the first camera designed using CAD, rather than hand-drawn plans, he said. But, while it was not a success (the autofocus era had arrived and Canon's EOS system would be announced a year later), it set the template for EOS ergonomics, introducing features such as the Main dial, LCD panel, and Quick control dial, and is still used as a reference point today.

The Canon T90, launched in 1986, is still a touchstone for the company

Photo: Richard Butler

The same camera was highlighted again during a presentation about handling and ergonomic design. Amazingly, while details have changed, the idea that the shutter button should be right at the front, with a dial mounted behind it, persists in most of Canon's ILCs, some 39 years later.

But this doesn't mean everything stays the same. Haruki Ota, in charge of imaging product design, also highlighted the differing role the camera grip plays for different users, and how the way a user will hold an EOS R1 is very different from the way someone will hold and operate the vlogging-friendly EOS R50C: both a far cry from the solely through-the-viewfinder handling of the T90, even if the echoes are still there.

Even with a formula to work from, he says a lot of work goes into each new model. We were shown mockup bodies, to which material is added and removed and button positions are adjusted, to find the most comfortable, operable shape.

"It's a process of trial and error. It's a very analog process, but it's essential," he says. "We believe this traditional method provides superb tactile quality."

Three early mockups of the EOS 50C, used to test ergonomics, showing different dial configurations.

Photo: Richard Butler

The process starts within the team but is expanded to include hands of all sizes, across all ages and genders. "Even our professional cameras are used by a broad audience, so we have to consider that."

This reverence for the past doesn't mean the company is always looking backwards, though. In an interview with senior executives, I asked whether they could imagine Canon ever making a stills-only camera. They made it very clear they feel that the future has to include video.

"In the professional market, there's a clear trend toward downsizing and efficiency. Meanwhile, amateur users increasingly seek higher image quality and creative expression," says Noriyuki Honda, Deputy Unit Executive of the Imaging Business Unit.

"But in both cases, they want both still and video capabilities, because even smartphones can do both. So we expect this pattern of demand to keep going. It makes sense for Canon to keep launching camera products that can do both, as well."

"Even if we made a stills-only camera it wouldn’t address all customers’ requirements. We think there's a bigger market for cameras that have both capabilities."

Left-to-right: Noriyuki Honda, Deputy Unit Executive of the Imaging Business Unit, Tetsushi Hibi, Unit Executive of the Imaging Optical Business Unit, and Yoishi Sato, Senior General Manager of Imaging Products Development Center 1

Photo: Richard Butler

This aggressive focus on what the market wants perhaps explains another common criticism of Canon: that it can seem pretty aggressive in its product segmentation: omitting features from one model to prevent it from competing with another in its lineup. But there's a counter-argument about making products that fit well with their audience.

Tokura highlights the original Digital Rebel (EOS 300D) as the model that helped Canon achieve the number one spot in terms of ILC market share: a position it hasn't relinquished in the intervening 22 years.

From one perspective, it was a stripped-down version of the EOS 10D and 20D series, but it was also the first experience of a large-sensor, interchangeable lens digital camera for a lot of people.

As the EOS 300D was raised, it crossed my mind that several of my friends, when I first got into digital photography, had one. And, for that matter, still do. This hasn't happened by chance. Reliability was another word raised repeatedly throughout the trip.

This was illustrated by the shock, shake and drop testing we were shown being conducted both on cameras and the boxes they're shipped in, but also through something Tokura said at the start of the event: "We're always striving for zero defects, not just minimal defects." He explained, "We might build millions of units, but the customer only buys one. So, for them, any error would represent a defect."

Despite the juggernaut that Canon can seem to be from the outside, the development staff is aware that not everything they do will automatically succeed.

"I say to new staff: you can make new things," says Tokura, but he knows not everything they make will be a success. "You can't control what the market will embrace. But development is fun: you get to make new things. Sometimes we're successful, sometimes we fail."

Although he was talking about a different camera, Tokura's words immediately reminded me of what I've always thought of as Canon's most radical camera of the digital era: the EOS R.

"The move to the EOS R was seen as a new approach; we added things like the Multi-function bar." Ota told us. But this wasn't particularly well received, he says. “We paid attention to market research [when developing subsequent modes]. But while it may look like we've reverted to our old approach, the touch control on the R3 and R1 sort of got evolved from this idea."

So how do you balance a drive for modernity with the demands of an audience that's become familiar with your existing designs? Tokura, a keen car enthusiast, draws a parallel with the automotive industry: "cars are a combination of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and software and, like cameras, they're a very emotional product."

The cites another example of a company balancing innovation with heritage, saying he wants Canon's cameras to be analogous to Porsche's 911 model. “You know it's still a 911,” he suggests: "but the newest one is always the best."

"We're not afraid to leave behind what we have done [before]." says Ota "But we also have an audience with expectations. Their response is not always positive. We're aware of this feedback, and we do listen."

"Conversely, though, some people say we're too traditional."

Though you can spend a lot of time and money setting up a dedicated home theater space, smart projectors could mean you don't have to. The TK705 projectors from BenQ are a great excuse not to bother, offering easy setup big-screen 4K visuals that are color accurate and daytime bright.

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Category: Home Entertainment, Consumer Tech, Technology

Tags: BenQ, 4K UHD, LED, Projectors, Google TV

In a world where slimness is often equated with health, a new Danish study has flipped the narrative: being slightly overweight, or even mildly obese, may not be as deadly as once thought. In fact, in some ways it could be safer than being thin.

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Category: Obesity, Illnesses and conditions, Body and Mind

Tags: Weight Loss, Body fat, Body mass index (BMI), Health

It’s usually CFMoto making these kinds of headlines, but this time, an unlikely manufacturer has churned out a rather exciting motorcycle from its stable. And it might well go on to be the most exciting offering in the middleweight motorcycle segment.

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Category: Motorcycles, Transport

Tags: qjmotor, Adventure Bikes, Touring, China

What has no brain, no nervous system, and not even nerves, yet acts as if it has reflexes? The answer is a Venus fly trap. This famous carnivorous plant captures insects and other small animals – and scientists have now figured out how.

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Category: Science

Tags: Botany, Carnivorous Plants

As is the case with things like road bikes and movie cameras, there are now tons of old high-end speakers that are still in great condition, but that go unused simply because they aren't modern. The SoundUp device addresses that problem, by converting vintage speakers to Bluetooth.

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Category: Music, Consumer Tech, Technology

Tags: Kickstarter, Bluetooth Speakers, Retro

This Film Friday, we are highlighting the Analog Sparks 2025 International Film Photography Awards, showcasing diverse analog work from around the globe. This marks the third edition of the contest, which saw record-breaking participation with more than 1800 submissions from 61 countries.

Réka Kóti, creator of the @analog_sparks Instagram community, founded the competition and its corresponding exhibition series. Hossein Farmani, head of the Lucie Foundation and founder of the international House of Lucie gallery network, supported the project.

The contest is dedicated entirely to analog photography and is open to professional, amateur and student photographers working with traditional techniques. This year, there were eight categories: Architecture, Fine Art, Human, Lifestyle, Nature, Photojournalism, Technique and Zines & Photobooks.

Submissions were judged by an independent international jury. The winners receive cash prizes, and their works will be featured in three exhibitions at House of Luxie galleries in Athens, Greece, Ostuni, Italy and Budapest, Hungary.

We've included a small selection of images here, but you can see the full gallery of winning images on the Analog Sparks website. Additionally, many of the photos below are part of series. You can see the full sets at the link in each.

Photographer: Varsics Péter, Hungary

Prize: Architecture Photographer of the Year / Gold Winner in Architecture/Other

Title: Ghosts of Pannenhuis

Caption: Ghosts of Pannenhuis is a photography series capturing fleeting human presence in the retro-futuristic Pannenhuis metro station in Brussels. Beneath its alienesque, cold concrete geometry, the station becomes a liminal space where everyday commuters appear ghostlike—momentary figures haunting a stark architectural dream. The project explores the eerie beauty of transit and the tension between permanence and passage. All shot on Cinestill 800T.

Photographer: Rachel Jump, United States

Prize: Human Best New Talent / Gold Winner in Human/Generations

Title: Everyone Is Icarus

Caption: This body of work focuses on the aftermath of my father’s genetic test results, which unveiled a hereditary disorder that heightens his, his children’s, susceptibility to cancer. This revelation offered a possible glimpse into our future— a rare, yet ambivalent gift. This project is an exploration of my family and our efforts to provide comfort and resilience for one another during times of hardship. Through this collaboration, we guide each other through the weight of newfound clarity, supporting one another as we confront how our lineage and shared experiences shape our sense of identity.

Photographer: Carlos Ruiz Galindo, Mexico

Prize: 2nd Place in Architecture / Gold Winner in Architecture/Buildings

Title: Rammed

Caption: This photographic series captures the contrast between architecture and its environment. Portraid in medium format film, the roughness of a house in Valle de Bravo is highlighted, built with rammed earth walls that stand in the ground. The brutalist geometry, with its heavy and imposing presence, is softened by its integration with nature, achieving a balance between the monumental and the inviting. The images reflect a timeless atmosphere, where the structure seems to emerge organically from the earth.

Photographer: Matteo Gallucci, Italy

Prize: Lifestyle Photographer of the Year / Gold Winner in Lifestyle/Street

Title: If These Streets Could Have Talk

Caption: I’ve been walking these streets of Rome and New York for 3 years with my Rolleiflex around my neck. While I was shooting I was barley know what I was doing, after a year I’ve discovered that I was taking notice of film passing through my lens. My eyes have stumbled upon the homeless, the poor the rich, the crazy. All with sharing and caring for their feeling and emotions.

Photographer: Seunggu Kim, Korea, Republic of

Prize: 2nd Place in Lifestyle / Gold Winner in Lifestyle/Culture

Title: Better Days

Caption: Korea has developed rapidly over 40 years, which caused a lot of social consequences. One of which is long working hours with a very short period of break. During holidays, Koreans try their best to enjoy it, but due to lack of time to travel, they spend time mostly around the city. I take a step back and observe various leisure spaces and people, slowly frame them, and wait for complex situations to balance. Koreans “fast pace lifestyle", and "community-based trust", revealed in this work show Koreans adapting to any situation, enjoying themselves together, and striving for “coexistence”.

Photographer: Patrick Betthaus, Germany

Prize: Lifestyle Best New Talent / Gold Winner in Lifestyle/Travel

Title: Croatia

Caption: This series was shot in Croatia, in the area around Šibenik, with an Olympus Superzoom 70G on Fomapan 400.

Photographer: Bill Hao, Canada

Prize: Technique Photographer of the Year / Gold Winner in Technique/Wet Collodion

Title: Rocky Mountains On Wetplate Collodion

Caption: Bill Hao made an Extra Large Format Camera(32X48inch) and using Wetplate Collodion Process to captures the breathtaking landscapes. He converted a 50 seats tour bus into an off grid mobile darkroom because this process requires immediate development after exposure. These beautiful natural landscapes are disappearing, The Canadian Rocky Mountains are devastated by wildfires every year, In July 2024, the largest wildfire in a century destroyed half of the town of Jasper and 32,000 hectares of forest, there were 57 wildfires burning in National Parks so far in 2025.

Photographer: Dmytro Trush, Ukraine

Prize: Technique Best New Talent / Gold Winner in Technique/Wet Collodion

Title: Echoes of Nature: Flora In Ambrotype

Caption: The 'Flora in Ambrotype' project offers a unique perspective on nature. The antique ambrotype technique, known for its depth and texture, captures botanical forms with striking clarity, giving them an almost tangible volume. Each image is a living portrait of a plant, frozen on glass. Flora transforms into sculpture, where details gain significance. Contrasts of light and shadow, silvery tones turn photos into poetic works. The project not only introduces plants in a vintage style but also highlights the fragility of natural beauty, as if suspended in time.

Photographer: Marta Berzina, Latvia

Prize: 2nd Place in Technique / Gold Winner in Technique/Double Exposure

Title: Inside, Out (From The Series)

Caption: This image is part of an ongoing series and film project titled Inside, Out, which explores the dualities embedded in human experience: the visible and the concealed, the internal and the external, stillness and movement, presence and absence. The work moves from introspective fragments to collective echoes, revealing moments where form and feeling blur. Each piece invites the viewer to question what is hidden beneath what is seen, and what truths emerge when opposites meet. Rather than offering clarity, Inside, Out opens a space for ambiguity — where emotion, perception, and transformation.

Photographer: Hengki Koentjoro, Indonesia

Prize: Nature Photographer of the Year / Gold Winner in Nature/Other

Title: Gibbon Falls

Caption: This is my early works using large format camera of 4x5 inches. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA. Sinar 4x5 large format camera + Fujinon 210mm f/5.6 lens. T-Max 400 film f/64 at 15 seconds.

Photographer: Pascal Kueng, Switzerland

Prize: 2nd Place in Nature / Gold Winner in Nature/Sunset

Title: Less Is More

Caption: Drawn to warm, soft and washed-out tones, I embrace an aesthetic that enhances the nostalgic feel of film. I prefer cameras like the Contax RTS and Fuji GS645 Wide, often pairing them with Kodak Color Plus, Gold or Portra for their versatility. Whether capturing vast landscapes or intimate, fleeting moments, my approach follows a Less is More philosophy—each image should stand on its own, evoking an entire world of emotion. I also try to explore themes of memory, stillness, and subtle emotion, often focusing on vast landscapes or quiet, intimate scenes.

Photographer: Daria Troitskaia, Italy

Prize: Photojournalism Photographer of the Year / Gold Winner in Photojournalism/Other

Title: Crazy Horse Paris

Caption: This series documents the behind-the-scenes environment of Crazy Horse Paris. Captured in 2024 using a Leica M7 and Ilford HP5 film, the images provide a detailed examination of the preparation and dedication involved in each performance. The photographs focus on the interactions and processes among the performers and production team, highlighting the discipline and creativity that contribute to the overall artistry of the show. This work aims to offer a professional insight into the operational aspects of Crazy Horse Paris.

Photographer: Kostis Karampinas, Greece

Prize: Photojournalism Best New Talent / Gold Winner in Photojournalism/Photo Essay

Title: Granules

Caption: Embark on a visual odyssey through rural Greece with my collection of 11 photographs. These evocative landscapes and portraits convey “granules’ of solitude, abandonment and curiosity, where time stands still. The haunting beauty of neglected corners unfolds in each image, inviting viewers to reflect on untold narratives of loneliness.

Photographer: Giulia Degasperi, Germany

Prize: Gold Winner in Photojournalism/Environmental / 2nd Place in Photojournalism

Title: The Last Milk

Caption: Set in the mountains above the Blenio Valley in Switzerland, The Last Milk captures the final days of the alpine pasture season, a time steeped in transition. The farmers, weary from months of labor, guide their thinning cows through pastures that have lost their lush summer green. As the cold begins to bite, the feeling of an ending, of a season, a cycle, a rhythm, hangs heavy in the air. These images reflect the quiet resolve of life in the high pastures, shaped by the inevitability of change and the approach of winter.

Photographer: Benito Drebing, Germany

Prize: 2nd Place in Photojournalism / Gold Winner in Photojournalism/Environmental

Title: There Should Be A Forest Here

Caption: Forests in Germany are increasingly vulnerable. Climate change impacts are becoming more visable every year and could become more severe. Periods of heat and drought weaken trees, aiding pests and making them vulnerable to storms, especially in monocultures. This project documents Taunus forests decline, raising questions about the future of our forests. Natural, diverse forests are best suited to resist climate change, yet economic interests favor profitable monocultures.

Photographer: Kyle Hoffman, Australia

Prize: Fine Art Photographer of the Year / Gold Winner in Fine Art/Still life

Title: Waratah

Caption: This image of a Waratah is part of a larger series I have been working on called Fossil, A series of images that explores the human mind's struggle to grasp the vastness of time and our fragility within it. The collection features prehistoric plants that evolved before the existence of bees, serving as tangible reminders of our temporal limitations. They highlight the dual nature of life - its persistent drive to survive alongside its inherent fragility. Waratahs are fascinating in their shape and form and part of a family that is over 300 million years old.

Photographer: Sebastian Siadecki, United States

Prize: Fine Art Best New Talent / Gold Winner in Fine Art/Other

Title: Oasis

Caption: Oasis is a series of photographs based around encounters with strangers at gas stations, truck stops, and highway rest areas in the United States – spaces that are simultaneously on the margins of our built environment, yet central to American society and culture. The project embraces the fleeting connection that often occurs between people passing through these non-places. The work also explores the societal tensions that they represent, as well as the broader themes of the human relationship with motor vehicles and the illusion of freedom on the road.

Photographer: Nuno Serrão, Portugal

Prize: 2nd Place in Fine Art / Gold Winner in Fine Art/Conceptual

Title: Icebergs

Caption: Icebergs are large freshwater bodies that have broken off a glacier and have gone floating in the open sea. Some people are like Icebergs. This is an ongoing photographic series that looks into a parallel world, one that contrasts with the our dopamine-driven society we encounter every day. One that resists the value of novelty, excitement and interaction. One that is not overwhelmed with stimuli, information, and expectations, urging us to engage, speak up, and network. Its inhabitants want to belong without joining in, and explore the world, by travelling inward.

Photographer: Toby Binder, Germany

Prize: Human Photographer of the Year / Gold Winner in Human/Youth

Title: Youth of Belfast

Caption: There is hardly any other country in Europe where a past conflict is still as present in daily life as Northern Ireland, especially affecting young people. Not only by physical barriers as walls and fences but also through a ideologically divided society. »If I had been born at the top of my street, behind the corrugated-iron border, I would have been British. Incredible to think. My whole idea of myself, the attachments made to a culture, heritage, religion, nationalism and politics are all an accident of birth. I was one street away from being born my ‘enemy’«. Paul McVeigh

Photographer: Jose Girl, United States

Prize: 2nd Place in Human / Gold Winner in Human/Portrait

Title: Them

Caption: Portrait shot in medium format analog camera

Photographer: Fabio Bonatti, Italy

Prize: 2nd Place in Human / Gold Winner in Human/Culture

Title: The Beauty of Simple Moments

Caption: My love for photography is tied up with my passion for travels. It all started with landscapes, and the more I grow the more is shifting towards people and little details. I just love photographing people in their environment, the beauty of simple moments in the everyday life.

Photographer: Yu Hsuan Chang, Taiwan

Prize: Zines and Photo Book Photographer of the Year / Gold Winner in Zines And Photo Book/Culture

Title: G-Book 女子冊 — Not Only One Way Beauty

Caption: G-Book is a meaningful photography project launched by photographer Chang Yu Hsuan in 2016. The project aims to capture the daily lives and inner stories of diverse women in Taiwan. By focusing on moments when women are immersed in their own pursuits, it reveals the authentic beauty and diversity of womanhood, giving women from all walks of life the opportunity to take center stage. The images are unedited, highlighting natural beauty and inviting viewers to rethink the definition and value of beauty. www.changyuhsuan.com/g-book

Photographer: Mickael Pouliquen, France

Prize: 2nd Place in Zines and Photo Book / Gold Winner in Zines And Photo Book/Travel

Title: Death Valley

Caption: In Death Valley, Mickael Pouliquen offers an intimate journey through the Valley of Death — a scorching land where time seems suspended and every element — rock, dust, light — becomes a language of its own. Born from three photographic journeys into one of the most hostile yet sublime environments in the United States, this project explores the human trace against the vastness of the desert, questioning what remains when everything fades away. The entire series was shot on film with a Mamiya 6.

Optoma has launched a new series of projectors under the Photon Life moniker, which are aimed at replacing popular lamp-based models in the company's line up. The series comprises three family members, including the flagship PK32 4K 4LED thrower.

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Category: Home Entertainment, Consumer Tech, Technology

Tags: Optoma, Projectors, LED, HD, 4K UHD

A team of researchers in France and Canada might have just improved upon humble parachutes by making lots of holes in them.

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Category: Drones, Consumer Tech, Technology

Tags: Engineering, Delivery drone, kirigami

No matter what type(s) of photography you like to pursue, mastering exposure is key to creating successful images. While it can be tempting to use your camera's screen to judge exposure, that display can be quite unreliable for such a task. Instead, one of the most useful tools for evaluating exposure in digital photography is the histogram, a graph that reveals the distribution of brightness levels across the image. Understanding how (and why) to use the histogram can help prevent accidentally losing details in the highlights or shadows, allowing you to get consistent, quality exposures.

Histograms are not specific to photography and are simply graphs that show the distribution of continuous numerical data. They help visualize data by revealing a shape, spread and central tendency in a dataset.

In digital photography, the histogram is an exposure-assessment tool. It graphs how many pixels fall at each brightness value. Pure black (0% brightness) is on the left side, and pure white (100% brightness) is on the right side. The height of each bar tells you how many pixels have that particular brightness value in the image.

There are also histograms that show the distribution of tones for each color channel (red, green and blue). These help you identify color casts and understand if certain colors are completely overexposed, often called 'clipped,' resulting in a loss of color information.

It's important to note that histograms are based on the camera’s JPEG output (which includes the camera's picture style settings), even if you are shooting in Raw. So while a histogram may show clipping in a specific color or for shadows or highlights, you may still be able to bring that detail back when editing the Raw file, since it has greater dynamic range than the JPEG.

Histograms provide an objective assessment of image lightness, which differs from your camera's display, which can be very misleading. For example, looking at the back of your camera in full sun will give you a very different experience than looking at it in a dark room. Likewise, adjusting your display's brightness will impact how your image looks, even though the image’s lightness level hasn’t changed at all.

The histogram doesn't rely on how things look but is based on brightness values. That means that no matter how or where you view your image, the histogram will be the same, making it possible to ensure your photographs are not misexposed.

One of the most important things to gather from the histogram is whether you are losing details in the highlights or shadows. You can change the general distribution of tones in editing, but if you are missing detail at either end (called clipping), you won't be able to bring that back. For example, if you're taking a photo of a sky with bright white clouds and you overexpose enough to have clipped highlights, those clouds will be pure white blobs in the photo with no texture. As mentioned above, if you're shooting Raw, you may have slightly more leeway than what the histogram shows, but there's still a limit.

Histograms make it easy to accurately assess exposure at a glance, helping to prevent clipping. Once you understand the common shapes of different types of exposure levels, you can quickly glance at the graph to determine whether your image is over- or underexposed and adjust from there.

When looking at the histogram, you want to assess the distribution of pixels by looking at the general shape of the graph. Certain shapes will typically indicate underexposure, while others suggest overexposure. You also want to pay particular attention to the edges. After all, the edges are where you will see if there is clipping. Data bunched up or spiking on either edge means you are losing detail that won't be recoverable.

It's important to know that there is no such thing as a perfectly shaped histogram for all photos, as every photo will have its own ideal histogram based on the tones within that particular scene. Instead, you want to check for abnormalities and dramatic shifts that don't fit a given scene. For example, it's normal for a histogram to be skewed to the left when shooting the night sky, but not when photographing a sunny beach.

If your histogram has most of the data bunched on the left side of the graph, it typically means your image is underexposed. Again, some situations will naturally have a left-skewed histogram, so it might be okay. However, if you see data spiking and touching the left edge of the graph, that means that you have shadow clipping and are losing detail in your shadows.

While you can bring a substantial amount of shadow detail back in Raw files, brightening shadows in editing can emphasize noise that's present from a lack of exposure. Additionally, though it generally isn't recommended to edit JPEG files, if your shadows are too heavy in those, you simply won't get detail back, and it will be a black mass in the photo.

To fix a histogram skewed to the left, you need to lighten your image by, ideally, using a wider aperture or a slower shutter speed. If that's not possible, you can lighten the image by using a higher ISO.

If your histogram is skewed to the right, that typically means your image is overexposed. The important thing to check for is, once again, if you have a spike of data on the right edge of the graph. When that's the case, it means your highlights are clipped (often referred to as 'blown out') and you won't be able to get tonal information back in those areas.

You need to darken your image to correct an image with a histogram skewed to the right. To do so, start by lowering your ISO, if you can, or by reducing exposure with a smaller aperture or faster shutter speed.

The histogram isn't just an in-camera feature. Most editing programs also feature a histogram, allowing you to balance the distribution of tones and color to maintain detail while editing. Just like your camera's display, computer screens can all look different, making it hard to judge if your exposure or colors are properly balanced. The histogram takes some of the guesswork out of the editing process, helping you fine-tune your edits and preserve critical image detail.

The histogram is an often misunderstood and underutilized tool. However, it can prevent you from realizing only too late that your shadows or highlights are completely clipped and lack detail. Checking often – both when photographing and when editing – can save you from some headaches later on and help you improve your photographs.

The Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG)-designed Claremont McKenna College Robert Day Sciences Center showcases the firm's flair for producing eye-catching architecture and is made up of stacked concrete rectangular forms. Featuring a light-filled interior, the building also significantly reduces its draw on the grid with solar power.

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Category: Architecture, Technology

Tags: Building and Construction, School, Bjarke Ingels Group, sustainable design

Earlier this week, Sony announced the FE 100mm F2.8 Macro GM, a macro lens capable of 1.5x reproduction, and that's compatible with teleconverters for even higher levels of magnification. We got the chance to take some pictures with the lens, using it for both macro and as a standard 100mm lens, and you can take a look through the sample gallery below to see how it performed.

We've also updated the gallery to include some shots taken with Sony's 2x teleconverter, to show how it affects the performance and to include examples of the 2.8x reproduction provided by that setup.

With thanks to Lensrentals for the camera body.

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Belgium's Bike43 has revealed a nifty cargo ebike that can grow as your family or hauling needs change. Riders can start off with a Short model, and then step up to a Mid flavor courtesy of an easy mod, and back again as needed.

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Category: Bicycles, Transport

Tags: Bosch, ebikes, Pedal-assisted, cargo bike, Modular

A groundbreaking study has revealed that your mom and dad’s DNA don’t just pass on telomere length, they actively reshape it in the first days of life, influencing how we age and our risk of developing diseases such as cancer.

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Category: Wellness and Healthy Living, Body and Mind

Tags: Aging, DNA, Telomere, Cancer, University of Pennsylvania

Scientists have developed a powerful new dual-imaging tool that maps the retina’s structure and oxygen use in unprecedented detail. This breakthrough could one day help doctors spot sight-stealing diseases long before symptoms appear.

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Category: Medical Innovations, Body and Mind

Tags: Medical Imaging, Diagnostic tools, Eye diseases, Oxygen, Johns Hopkins University, University of Pennsylvania

It’s hard to think of a more challenging environment for an automotive battery than the surface of the Moon, and preparations for NASA’s Artemis program give us a chance to contrast the pioneering technology of the 1970s with where we are 50 years later.

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Category: Space, Science

Tags: Rover, Lunar, artemis, NASA, General Motors, Electric Vehicles, Space exploration, Spacecraft

Nearly 3,000 growing chasms have opened up in dozens of towns, swallowing up roads and houses in their path. Known as urban gullies, these destructive forces of nature are increasing rapidly and now threaten to displace more than 3.2 million people.

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Category: Environment, Science

Tags: KU Leuven, Africa, Disasters, Climate Crisis, Geology, Earth