Is using AI cheating?

Here’s a very interesting debate: Using AI make the work of wedding photographers easier. Where they once had to manually edit hundreds of photos, AI can now learn their editing style and apply it across all the images automatically. But is that cheating?

I don’t think so. AI is just another tool designed to make your life easier, and that doesn’t mean your final work should be cheaper. Pricing isn’t determined only by the tools you use, but by the demand and the quality of the final product, within other facts. 

Three New Sigma Zoom Lenses

According to a report published by The Phoblographer, Sigma has filed patents for three new zoom lenses: a 300–600mm f/4, a 400–800mm f/8, and a 180–800mm f/5.8–8.4.

The 300–600mm and 400–800mm ranges aren't ones I’d consider for myself, as they seem to be aimed at photographers who need long reach without the need to also capture subjects that are much closer. The 180–800mm is more appealing for that reason—it offers more flexibility.

The bad news is that there’s no mention of Canon RF mount versions. It appears these lenses are primarily being designed for the Sony ecosystem. 

The first Canon mirrorless camera using the RF mount was released in September 2018, and here we are in 2025—with still no widely available third-party lenses for the system, despite ongoing rumors of a possible release from Sigma. This pushes Canon users to buy EF-mount lenses and adapt them to the RF mount, as it remains the only viable option for purchasing lenses that are more affordable than the newer RF lenses.

Is this Canon’s marketing strategy the right one? Apparently, yes—because it hasn’t changed since 2018.

Photographer shot by a sponge bullet

While checking the news, I came across two incidents where a photographer and a journalist were struck by sponge bullets. Covering a protest isn’t as safe as many might think—especially when the protest turns violent. Here are my recommendations for those willing to take the risk:

- Avoid getting trapped between protesters and law enforcement.
- Always be aware of escape routes.
- Constantly scan your surroundings.
- Don’t run unless necessary: Running can draw attention or cause injury in a chaotic crowd.

Nick Stern saw blood pouring down his leg after being shot by a non-lethal round (AP)

 

Mastering the Basics

 Some people are just really good at teaching. This is one of the best videos I’ve seen for explaining the basics of shooting in Manual Mode.

 In Spain, there’s an old saying: “You learn how to castrate by castrating.” What it means is that learning photography—like any skill—requires a lot of hands-on practice. You’ll only start to feel truly comfortable with your camera and your results after taking thousands of photos. You definitely won’t see great results after just 10 shots—that’s for sure.

Last weekend

 As usual, let’s start the week by sharing some of the pictures taken over the weekend. One of my favorites is this one, where I managed to capture a composition with the alligator framed right in the center.

Pictures of a gallinule chick are something new for me. I’ve seen plenty of common gallinules, but this is the first time I’ve seen their babies. They’re black! It was funny to watch them moving around with their disproportionately large legs!

 This landscape picture is my favorite. I managed to add some color to the sky in post processing and I think it came out well. 

 

 The last picture is of a turtle that was taking a walk, looking for a good place to lay its eggs.

 

The videos from this weekend can be found here and here.  

Nature's Moments No 14

 Here is another short video from this last weekend. 

Canon R1 vs Canon R6 Mark II

Here’s a video comparing two cameras: the Canon R1 and the Canon R6 Mark II. Spoiler alert—the R1 knocks out the R6 Mark II in almost every comparison point. That’s the main reason you pay $6,000 for the R1 and $2,000 for the R6 Mark II.

 

The R1 is, without a doubt, a dream machine—specifically designed for companies that can afford this tool to produce high-quality content, whether it’s for commercials, magazines, or other professional publications. For the rest of us mortals, the R6 Mark II gets the job done, delivering photo and video quality that’s more than decent. And when I say decent, I mean good enough to earn money from your work if you're a professional photographer dreaming of one day owning an R1.