New black and white film, drone hunting and Adobe’s AI offensive – news of the week 25/2026

Analogue film, a relic of days gone by? Anyone who believes this has not taken into account the growing community of film photographers. And without Light Lens Labs, who apparently not only build Leica-style lenses but are now also entering the film business. The Hong Kong company has announced a new black and white film. It should have its own character – not another Tri-X clone, but something with its own personality.

Silver grains with character

There’s little concrete information about the emulsion yet, but Light Lens Labs promises a special grain structure and tonality that should stand out from the usual suspects on the black and white market. Kodak and Ilford regularly increase the prices for their classics – every new player is welcome, provided availability and price are right. The real problem with analogue photography is no longer whether someone still wants to buy film, but rather whether they can get it without taking out a small loan. Anyone who remembers Light Lens Labs’ previous products, such as the replicas of classic Leica lenses, knows: the company has a knack for niche products with enthusiast appeal. Whether the new film fulfills this promise will become clear when the first rolls end up in the developer can.

FBI hunts drone pilots at the World Cup

The mood of some drone pilots in the USA is likely to be significantly less relaxed than putting in a fresh film. For the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the FAA has set up large no-fly zones around stadiums, fan festivals and team quarters – and the FBI means business. In Atlanta alone, 13 drones were confiscated before the ball even properly rolled. The message is unmistakable: Anyone who lets their drone fly near a World Cup venue risks fines of up to $100,000.

You might think that’s an exaggeration. But the security situation at major events is different than during a Sunday flight over the local field. For photographers and videographers who specialize in aerial photography, this simply means: stay away unless you have express permission. And that should be about as easy to get as a regular place in the national team. By the way, the regulation applies not only during the games, but also at the official events surrounding them. So if you were hoping to at least film the fan mile from above, you were out of luck.

Adobe turns Lightroom into a video generator

While the FBI is taking drones out of the sky, Adobe is taking its Creative Cloud to a new level. Or at least tries to. The company has announced a range of AI features for Lightroom and Photoshop that are intended to give users more control over the generative tools. The real kicker: Lightroom can now generate videos from photos. Yes, you read that right. Of all things, image management, in which you previously pushed controls and corrected white balances, is becoming a moving image tool.

However – and this is the famous fine print – this function is the first within Lightroom that uses so-called Generative Credits. In other words, the currency that Adobe allocates to its subscribers in different amounts depending on the tariff. Those who generate a lot pay more. The model is already known from the Firefly web app, but now it is also being used in the desktop application. Does this excite photographers who value Lightroom primarily as a quick tool for everyday editing? Rather not. Because when you’re sorting through 2,000 wedding photos, you don’t really want to keep an eye on credits.

The improved AI-supported selection and masking tools are likely to be more exciting for everyday work. Here, Adobe promises that users can intervene more precisely instead of having to blindly trust the AI. Sounds like a sensible approach: AI as an assistant, not an autopilot. The coming updates will show whether Adobe maintains this balance in practice.

Analogue comeback, digital control

The week once again shows how wide the spectrum of photography extends. On the one hand, a new black and white film that is reminiscent of the medium’s craft roots. On the other, AI-generated videos from software that began as a digital darkroom. And in between, an FBI collecting drones.

(tho)