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Around The Horn
14 October 2025
In this recurring column, we highlight a few items we've run across that don't merit a full story of their own but are interesting enough to bring to your attention. This time we look at George Bradford Brainerd, Chicago, Evan Vucci, brown bears, astrotourism, bending reality, the Z9 generation, using just one lens and software quality.
- In Candid New York, the Guardian showcases image taken by George Bradford Brainerd in the 19th century using the "spy camera" he developed that used faster dry-plate technology in a handheld camera to capture "instantaneous photography." The $35 book Candid New York will be published on Oct. 21.
- Reuters presents 18 photos in Protesters Clash With Police Outside ICE Facility in Chicago Suburb.
- Associated Press photographer Evan Vucci discovered news of a potential Mideast ceasefire in his photo of Rubio's Note to Trump. "I kept my lens trained on him as he took his seat," he writes about watching Rubio. "A moment later, he leaned over and grabbed a notepad. That's when my instincts kicked in -- something was about to happen."
- Kenneth Hursh is Photographing Brown Bears in Katmai with the Canon RF 100-300mm f2.8, which he reviews for LensRentals.
- In Astrotourism (The Dark Park), Mike Johnston writes, "Great Basin National Park attracts visitors from all over the world, among them "astrotourists" of every description -- including -- of course -- photographers." Because there they can "see the night sky like our primordial ancestors did, with no light pollution."
- Derrick Story lists Seven Techniques for Bending Reality in the Sierras after his recent workshop in the Eastern Sierras.
- Thom Hogan wonders, Is the Z9 Generation Complete? "Nikon currently has a five model sweep that has almost the same level of function and features, but differs in performance," he writes. "That 'performance' comes in pixel count (20, 24, 45), frame size (DX, FX), frame rate (10 fps to 120 fps max), rolling shutter (1/20 to 1/268). top video (4K to 8K) and a host of other small bits and pieces (e.g. battery, EN-EL15 vs. EN-EL18)."
- Jason Row suggests Using One Lens to Boost Your Creativity. With a prime lens. "It might seem a very odd concept that limiting the amount of gear you take, can boost your creativity, but it does. By limiting yourself to a single focal length, you are actually opening up many more photographic possibilities, but why? Put simply, it makes you less lazy."
- In The Great Software Quality Collapse, Denis Stetskov writes, "I've been tracking software quality metrics for three years. The degradation isn't gradual -- it's exponential." You may have notice. He explains why. "We've created a perfect storm: tools that amplify incompetence, used by developers who can't evaluate the output, reviewed by managers who trust the machine more than their people."
More to come! Meanwhile, here's a look five years back. And please support our efforts...