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Editor’s Note

As we wrap up our macro series, we want to officially announce that our macro photography competition has now come to a close! Thank you to everyone who submitted their incredible close-up images; we were blown away by the creativity. You can find the full list of winners announced below!

Looking ahead, we are incredibly excited to introduce our new monthly photography theme: Events Photography. There are some spectacular events on the horizon, most notably the breathtaking Vivid Sydney, making it the absolute perfect opportunity to grab your camera gear, head out into the vibrant crowds, and have some fun capturing the energy, light, and magic of the city!

Monthly photo competition

Week 1: Preparation & The Essential Shot List

The foundation of great event photography is anticipating the moments before they happen. This week focuses on the planning phase and understanding client expectations.

⚠️ Weekly prompts are just a guide — interpret them your way, as long as your shot captures the spirit of the month's theme.⁠

How to enter:

To participate, simply complete the submission form on our portal on our website. Make sure your entries align with this month's theme. For additional guidance, check the photographic tips below.

Prizes:

1st Prize: Manfrotto MB MA3-BP-GM Advanced Gear Medium III 17L Backpack Valued at $249.95 RRP

2nd Prize: Manfrotto Element MII Aluminum Tripod with Ball Head
Valued at $199.95 RRP

Deadline:

All entries must be submitted by 5th July, 2026.

Make sure to read the FAQ on the competition page at the link below to understand all the details and rules of the competition.

We look forward to receiving your photos and celebrating your creativity

An interesting fact about the
Manfrotto Advanced Gear Medium III
17L Backpack

Engineered for creators on the move, the Manfrotto Advanced Gear Medium III 17L Backpack is the ultimate storage solution for your event gear. Despite its sleek and compact design, it packs a massive punch, comfortably housing two DSLRs with attached lenses, up to three additional lenses, accessories, and even a 15-inch laptop and tablet. The interior is fully customizable to fit a drone setup, while the exterior features a rugged, wear-resistant polyester finish, a dedicated tripod attachment, and a convenient trolley sleeve for travel. Complete with a waterproof rain cover to protect your gear from the elements, it’s the perfect, reliable companion for long days shooting on location.

Vivid Sydney is Here!

If you are eager to put our new event photography tips into practice, there is no better playground than Vivid Sydney, which is officially lighting up the city every night from 6:00 pm through Saturday, 13 June.

This year’s festival features a massive 6.5-kilometre Vivid Light Walk connecting Circular Quay, The Rocks, Barangaroo, and Darling Harbour. It’s the perfect high-energy environment to practice scouting vantage points, managing immense crowds, and timing your shots, especially with spectacular features like the Opera Mundi projections on the Sydney Opera House sails and the nightly Star-Bound drone and laser shows over Cockle Bay.

Grab your camera, build your "must-have" shot list, and head into the city to capture the magic!

The foundation of great event photography is anticipating the moments before they even happen. Unlike other genres where you can control the pace, events move fast, and missing a key moment usually means it is gone forever. This week, we are diving into the essential planning phase of event photography, focusing on how thorough preparation, clear client communication, and a strategic shot list can take the guesswork out of your next gig and ensure you never miss a beat.

Collaborate Early with Event Organisers:

Before the event kicks off, schedule a briefing with the organiser to nail down the day's exact schedule and timeline. Ask for a rundown of key timings, such as when the doors open, the exact minute a keynote speaker takes the stage, or when an award is being handed out, so you can position yourself perfectly ahead of time rather than chasing the action from behind the crowd.

Build a "Must-Have" Shot List:

Never rely on memory when the pressure is on. Work with your client to build a structured checklist of non-negotiable images, which typically includes VIP and celebrity arrivals, wide establishing shots of the venue before the crowd enters, tight portraits of keynote speakers in action, and candid interactions of the guests enjoying themselves.

Scout the Venue Ahead of Time:

If possible, visit the location a day early or arrive a few hours before the guests to check the vantage points and lighting. Walk the floor to find elevated balconies or clear sightlines, and take test shots under the venue's house lights, so you know exactly what ISO and shutter speed restrictions you'll be working against before the main event begins.

To seamlessly execute your preparation plan and capture every critical moment on your event shot list, having the right mix of reliable hardware and organisational accessories is essential. A versatile standard zoom lens (such as a 24-70mm equivalent) serves as your primary workhorse, allowing you to switch instantly from wide venue shots to tight speaker portraits. To survive a grueling multi-hour schedule, a steady supply of high-capacity spare batteries is non-negotiable. For maximum agility in a crowded venue, a dual-camera shoulder harness lets you carry two bodies with different focal lengths simultaneously, ensuring you never miss a fleeting moment. You can keep your timeline and shot list at your fingertips using a wrist-mounted gear sleeve to avoid fumbling with your phone. Finally, packing high-speed memory cards prevents buffering delays during fast-paced action, all neatly organized alongside your small accessories in a compact, accessible tech pouch, or even a sling bag.

NEED HELP? TALK TO AN EXPERT 1300 365 220

“Be prepared. You have to have a plan, but you also have to be flexible enough to change it when things happen.”

- Mary Ellen Mark

Your photo question of the week:

When shooting large-scale night events like Vivid Sydney, you will often want to capture a crisp, sharp photo of a speaker or performer on a brightly lit stage while keeping the massive, low-light crowd in the background contextually visible. Which camera setting is most critical to balance so the background doesn't just turn into a pitch-black void?

A) ISO sensitivity

B) White Balance

C) Autofocus mode

D) Burst mode speed

Last weeks question:

When creating beautiful background "bokeh" circles in macro photography, what physical part of your lens directly controls whether those glowing light shapes look perfectly round or like multi-sided polygons?

A) The front filter thread

B) The aperture blades < Correct Answer

C) The focal length switch

D) The image stabilisation element

Let's face it. Not all of us are professionals, and even still, pros still need to learn a thing or two about photography or cinematography. That's why we've put together this section. We want to highlight some of the common and not-so-common questions people face when attempting a particular genre.

“I regularly shoot events in dimly lit venues or restaurants, and I find my lens constantly "hunting" for focus. By the time my camera finally locks onto my subject, the candid moment has completely passed. How can I ensure fast, accurate autofocus when there is barely any light in the room?”

Low-light autofocus hunting is incredibly frustrating, but it usually comes down to how your camera looks for contrast. Autofocus systems rely on finding an edge of contrast (like the line between a dark suit and a white shirt) to lock on. In a dark room, that contrast disappears.

First, switch your autofocus point from a wide zone to a single central point. The centre AF point is typically a "cross-type" sensor, making it the most sensitive and accurate point on your camera. Aim the centre point directly at an area of high contrast on your subject, like the neckline, or the edge of a collar, rather than a flat, solid colour. Second, if you use a speedlight, enable its AF-assist beam. This projects a subtle red grid onto your subject specifically for your camera's focus system to read, allowing it to lock on instantly even in pitch-black conditions.

Macro Photography Competition Winners!

And now it’s time to unveil the very worthy winners of our Macro photo comp. Judged by the entire team at Digital Camera Warehouse consisting of professional and enthusiast photographers.

1st Place: KHALID Faraj AL-WADIHI - Carpenter Ant

Nikon D5300, 105mm Macro + Raynox 250, Single External Flash, 1/200s, f/4.8, ISO 100

Khalid blew the judges away with an extraordinary close-up that brings us face-to-face with a carpenter ant. The level of sharpness achieved on the insect's head and formidable mandibles is absolutely spectacular, perfectly showcasing the incredible power and intricate anatomy of a world right beneath our feet. Brilliant work, Khalid!

2nd Place: Jason Walters

Shot on OM System OM-1 Mark I, 90mm f/3.5 Macro IS PRO, Godox V860III Flash with Cygnustech Diffuser, 1/60s, f/8, ISO 200, Handheld, 97-image focus stack, Lightly edited in Adobe Lightroom

While out searching for autumn fungi at the Grange Reserve in Clayton, Melbourne, Jason stumbled upon a brilliant stroke of luck. Instead of mushrooms, he came face-to-face with a formidable Bull Ant. The two shared a momentary standoff, allowing Jason to capture a spectacular, handheld 97-image focus stack before the insect wandered off. The resulting photograph is an incredibly crisp, detailed portrait that absolutely does justice to this iconic Australian insect. Fantastic job, Jason!

Highly Commended

Peter Brown Praying Mantis

Karen Johns Robber Fly's eyes

Reader’s gallery

Navigate to our reader’s gallery to see a selection of entries to help inspire your vision. You can also see the past winners there. Thank you to everyone who sent in their images. We love seeing them!

Sometimes, all we need is some visual motivation, like these images, to spark our creative thoughts. What will you create with your camera this week? Enter your images via our online portal, and we look forward to showcasing them.