Amateur Photographer

Amateur Photographer is the world’s oldest weekly photographic magazine, established in 1884. It is the respected authority for news and reviews, with detailed tests and investigations on the latest equipment. The weekly contents include interviews and columns from many of the world’s leading photographers and practical technique to inspire and enthuse the devoted readership, to whom taking photos is far more than just a hobby. Essential reading for those interested in buying photographic equipment or wanting advice about improving their picture taking. Amateur Photographer is published 51 times a year. Subscribe now and save money on the retail price.

Welcome

What's new

What's new • Compacts are back on the table, but where are all the mid-range, affordable cameras?

I was there too! • A charming and well-packed volume by Chris Porsz is the photographer's latest "final book", Peter Dench discovers more

Sausages, sandals and... sex toys • The colourful and influential world of Martin Parr is still on display as part of Bristol Photo Festival

Excitement, chaos and tragedy • The sublime images capture the reality of life on the gay scene in 1980s New York

Your best Photos • Our favourite photos posted by readers on our social media channels. To see your photo here, post it on Instagram or Facebook with the hashtag #appicofttheweek

Amateur Photographer of the Year • Your chance to enter the UK’s most prestigious competition for amateur photographers

Picture Perfect • One genre. Three photographers. Three standout images, each revealing how vision, timing and technique come together in a single frame. For this issue, AP invited three photographers known for their images of cats to share one image they consider among their best. From split-second decisions to carefully crafted compositions, they reveal the thinking, technique and experience behind the shot, offering insight into not just how the image was made, but why it matters

Chohee Courtois • Chohee is a West London photographer specialising in portraits of pets and their people. Fascinated by the personalities of her subjects and the bonds they share with their owners, she aims to capture the character and connection that make each relationship special. Her work has won multiple national and international photography awards. Instagram @choheecourtois.photo

Alex Class • Alex Class is the photographer behind Paws Celebre, creating heartfelt portraits of pets and their people in the comfort of their own homes. Inspired by the life-changing bonds between animals and their owners, Alex takes a gentle, empathetic approach, offering sensory-aware sessions that celebrate the unique connection between pet and person. Instagram @alexclass

An Insurance Against Time • Self-taught street photographer Trevor Lake arrived relatively late to photography, but he brought a lifetime of looking, an instinct for people and an appreciation of the stories photographs preserve. Peter Dench finds out more...

The Dark Side of Documentary • Dark Tales explores the uneasy territory where British documentary photography meets the Gothic, revealing a world of strange encounters, unsettling places and stories hiding in plain sight.

The Colour Pioneer • Fifty years after William Eggleston’s Guide helped redefine colour photography, The Photographers’ Gallery revisits the painstaking dye transfer prints that changed photographic history.

Join the Club • This friendly West Yorkshire camera club celebrated its 70th anniversary last year

Visionary, versatile Voigtländer

Sigma 85mm F1.2 DG | Art • With its classic portrait focal length and unusually large aperture, this lens has plenty of appeal.

Sony FE 600mm F6.3 GM OSS

3 Legged Thing...