In today's episode a lion cub gorges himself, a copyright case is finally settled, Fujifilm releases the Instax Wide 400 in Jet Black and a new camera that gives you photo quests.
Show Notes
Welcome back to the show, Liam here and this is Episode 498 of the Liam Photography Podcast for the week of March 19th, 2026. In today’s episode, a lion cub, a copyright case gets settled, a new Jet Black Instax Wide, and camera side quests.
We’ve all been there. A photographer captured a lion cub splayed out on the ground with an inflated belly after it had eaten to the point of exhaustion.
Johan J Botha was in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in South Africa when he came across a lion family feeding on a gemsbok they had killed.
“It was January, midsummer, and temperatures easily reached 40 degrees Celsius [104 degrees Fahrenheit] on the day these images were taken,” Botha tells PetaPixel. “We spent a long time with them in the intense heat — but it proved both rewarding and surprisingly humorous.”
The lion family had already eaten most of the antelope when Botha arrived. He captured the male lion lifting his head while feeding and looking straight down the barrel of the photographer’s lens before giving a wink. “Shortly afterwards, he began cleaning his face with his tongue — something I had never photographed before,” Botha adds.
After a generous feast, the lions groomed one another and one of the three lion cubs tried to play with its father. But in the suffocating heat and all that food in its stomach, the play lasted only moments and the cub quickly settled down.
Hot and overfed, two of the lions rolled onto their backs in an amusing manner that felt “disarmingly human,” according to Botha.
“The cub managed one last lazy glance in my direction before drifting into deep sleep,” he says.
Unlike many wild animals that graze all day, lions have a feast-or-famine lifestyle. After a kill, the big cats will gorge. A male lion can eat up to 90 pounds of food in one sitting — that’s an astonishing 20 percent of its body weight.
Indiana Public Media explains that since the lion may not have a successful hunt for another week or so, it will gorge as much as it can to sustain itself. It’s a strategic trait the lion species has developed so it can survive.
Just like people, after eating a large meal lions feel sleepy and moving around is uncomfortable. As this lion cub shows, it’s best to just relax and let the food digest.
More of Botha’s work can be found on his website and Facebook.
Relatives of the eccentric photographer Mike Disfarmer have reached a settlement in a copyright dispute involving thousands of his photographs and glass-plate negatives.
According to a report by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, the details of the agreement between Disfarmer’s great-great nephew Fred Stewart and the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts are confidential. The museum holds many of the photographer’s surviving negatives.
“The Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts and the Disfarmer family have reached a mutual agreement,” Stewart says in a statement. “I have met several representatives of the AMOFA and found them very pleasant and professional.”
The New York Times reported last week that while the specific terms are private, the agreement appears to leave the heirs in possession of the copyright and about 3,000 of Disfarmer’s glass-plate negatives, along with hundreds of posthumous prints made from them.
According to the news outlet, the first family-authorized exhibition of the photographer’s work opened on February 25. Titled “Disfarmer: The Homecoming,” the display features nine prints and is on view in the rotunda of the Arkansas State Capitol through late May.
Stewart filed a lawsuit against the museum’s foundation in 2024, alleging it had been profiting illegally from thousands of Disfarmer photographs and glass-plate negatives that were donated to the institution in the mid-1970s.
Disfarmer died in 1959, but his portraits of residents of rural Arkansas were rediscovered by the art photography world in the 1970s. Since then, his images of ordinary people have come to symbolize small-town America during the Great Depression and World War II.
Working primarily in black and white, Disfarmer photographed members of his community in the town of Heber Springs. Beginning around 1914, Disfarmer photographed local residents who purchased portraits for as little as 25 cents. His subjects typically stood stiffly in a bare studio setting, often facing the camera with little expression. The stark simplicity of these portraits has often been compared to the mood of American Gothic by Grant Wood.
Disfarmer himself remains a somewhat mysterious figure. Born Mike Meyer in Indiana, he legally changed his name in 1939 to Mike Disfarmer. According to a filing from foundation attorneys, he believed that “Meyer” meant farmer in German and adopted the name “Disfarmer,” which he interpreted to mean “not a farmer.” He also reportedly claimed that when he was three years old he had been blown by a tornado into the home of a couple named Meyer. Disfarmer moved to Heber Springs, never married, and lived alone in his photography studio. He was often described as eccentric.
When he died at 75, Disfarmer left behind thousands of glass-plate negatives and a bank account containing $18,148.80, which was divided among his siblings or their heirs. According to court filings from the museum foundation’s attorneys, family members showed little interest in the negatives at the time. They were sold at an estate sale for $5 to former Heber Springs mayor Joe Allbright.
Allbright later sold the collection in 1973 to Peter Miller, editor of the Arkansas Sun. Miller said in a 2021 interview that he acquired about 6,000 glass-plate negatives. Many of the plates had been stored in Allbright’s garage for more than a decade, where bacteria had begun to destroy the animal-gelatin emulsion used in the negatives.
Miller traveled to the headquarters of Kodak in Rochester, New York, to learn how to salvage the remaining plates. Restoring them was a arduous years-long process. In 1976, Miller transferred the negatives to an entity known as The Group Inc., which later gave them to the Arkansas Arts Center, now known as the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts.
Fujifilm Insta Wide in Jet Black
Fujifilm’s Instax Wide 400 instant camera is coming soon in a stylish “jet black” colorway, offering photographers a more grown-up option compared to the sage green the Instax Wide 400 launched way back in June 2024.
Although arriving nearly two years after the base green model, the new black Instax Wide 400 is a welcome addition to the Instax family. Speaking of additions to Instax, this news arrives very shortly after Fujifilm unveiled the new Instax Mini 13 camera. Instax is a cash cow for Fujifilm, and the company never hesitates to expand its instant camera offerings.
Besides the new color, the jet black Instax Wide 400 is functionally identical to the green version. It still shoots on double-card-sized wide format Instax film (3.4 x 4.25 inches), promises a very simple user experience, and features a built-in retractable 95mm f/14 lens that delivers a roughly 35mm equivalent field of view.
“Featuring a matte finish with a deep, rich black tone, ‘Jet Black’ conveys a calm and refined impression. This sophisticated matte black color suits a wide range of situations, from casual scenes such as outdoor activities to urban snapshot photography and formal occasions including weddings and parties,” Fujifilm says of its new Instax Wide 400 colorway.
When PetaPixel reviewed the Instax Wide 400 back in 2024, Chris Niccolls lauded the camera’s “fit and finish,” noting that the chunky camera felt well-built and looked stylish.
However, Niccolls dinged the camera for its lackluster optical viewfinder and explained that the relative lack of manual control could be considered a positive or negative, depending on the user’s expectations.
The Fujifilm Instax Wide 400 is clearly geared to be an accessible, beginner-friendly Instax Wide camera. On that front, it succeeds. Now, with a new jet black color option, the entry-level Instax doesn’t have to look quite so toy-like. The sage green may appeal to quite a few users, but there’s no denying that the new jet black color is a bit more grown-up.
The Fujifilm Instax Wide 400 Jet Black is available to preorder now for the same $174.95 price as its sage sibling. Fujifilm is also launching a new matching black case for $22.50. Both the camera and the case are expected to begin shipping on March 31.
A designer has built a fun camera that gets people outside and exploring the world around them.
Paul Lagier explains that every time the QuestCam is turned on, it gives out random quests like “find something tiny” or “photograph a hidden face”.
Lagier built the QuestCam out of a “few electronic components,” including a small controller board with a camera, a battery, a small display, a button, and a simple power switch.
As seen in the YouTube video above, Lagier then sets about assembling the different parts and writes the necessary code. He designs his own casing, which he 3D prints, and then stuffs all the wiring and parts into the case.
As soon as the user hits the power button, the quest immediately appears on the display. Hackster explains that the shutter button performs most functions. Press it once to release the shutter so it can confirm the quest. Double-clicking it activates a 10-second timer so users can quickly move to the front of the camera and get a photo of themselves. Holding the button down for a few seconds enables Wi-Fi pairing mode. Once connected, users can open a web page that shows all completed quests. Users can also add their own quests on the web interface.
The camera itself, Lagier admits, isn’t great — just three megapixels. But the camera is really about unlocking random missions to complete.
“After using it for a while, I noticed something funny when you walk around with this camera, your brain switches into quest mode and suddenly you look at everything around you thinking, ‘does this count’ and that’s exactly what I wanted this QuestCam to do,” Lagier says.
“The whole thing turns into a real-life scavenger hunt,” adds Lagier.
Another way of getting people exploring the real world is Pokémon Go by Niantic, but it was reported this week that spin-off company Niantic Spatial is using all the visual data gathered by players to build a massive geospatial model that can power robots and AI.
You can build the QuestCam yourself by visiting Lagier’s Ko-Fi page, where he’s provided all the necessary instructions.
Harlowe, formerly known as Hobolite, has announced the Omni 360° 2W, a compact video fill light designed for creators working across vlogging, action cameras, and immersive 360° content. With a focus on portability and adaptability, the light aims to provide consistent, wraparound illumination in fast-moving shooting environments.
Unlike traditional pocket LEDs that function as directional spotlights, the Harlowe Omni 360° 2W is built to deliver more even lighting across a scene. Its panoramic output is designed to reduce harsh shadows and hotspots, an approach that may be particularly useful for 360° workflows where lighting inconsistencies can be more noticeable.
At the core of the Omni 360° 2W is its dual lighting approach. Users can switch between full 360° panoramic illumination and a more traditional 180° directional mode, depending on the shooting scenario. This flexibility allows the light to adapt to both immersive multi-angle content and standard front-facing setups.
The light outputs 2W in standard operation, with a 200% Boost mode increasing output up to 4W when additional brightness is needed. This added headroom may help in more challenging lighting conditions, though the unit remains positioned as a compact fill rather than a primary light source.
“The Harlowe Omni 360 2W Creator Kit is a compact, creator-first lighting solution designed specifically for 360 camera content, including Insta360 and DJI Osmo workflows. Built for immersive creators, this light delivers 360° wraparound illumination, helping reduce harsh shadows, eliminate hotspots, and maintain consistent exposure across every angle of your shot,” Harlowe says.
Harlowe states that the Omni 360° 2W is built with mobility in mind. It features gesture control for quick adjustments without physical interaction, useful for solo creators or situations where accessing controls is inconvenient. A Mode Memory function stores previous settings, including brightness and color temperature, helping streamline repeated setups.
Durability is another focus, with an aluminum body and an IP54 rating for dust and splash resistance. This positions the light for outdoor use in travel, street, and action scenarios where conditions may be less predictable.
Physically, the unit remains small and lightweight, measuring 2.8 x 1.77 x 0.95 inches (7.1 x 4.5 x 2.4 centimeters) and weighing approximately 0.12 pounds (54 grams), making it easy to integrate into compact rigs.
In addition to the standard kit, Harlowe is offering Creator Kits tailored for popular 360 camera systems, including Insta360 X5 and DJI Osmo 360 setups. These kits include lightweight aluminum cages designed to add mounting points and protection while allowing direct integration of the light without additional accessories.
Each cage includes multiple cold shoe mounts and a 1/4″-20 thread, expanding mounting flexibility for more complex setups while maintaining a relatively lightweight profile.
The light itself mounts via a durable metal cold shoe and also features a magnetic underside to assist with quick alignment during setup.
With its emphasis on even lighting coverage, simple controls, and compact form factor, the Omni 360° 2W appears aimed at creators producing content in dynamic or unpredictable environments. This includes travel vloggers, street shooters, and those working with 360 cameras, where consistent lighting across all angles is essential.
While its output remains modest compared to larger lighting systems, the combination of portability, flexible output modes, and integrated ecosystem options suggests a focus on convenience and workflow efficiency rather than raw power.
The Harlowe Omni 360° 2W is available in multiple configurations. The standard kit is priced at $95, while Creator Kits, bundled with dedicated camera cages for compatible systems, are priced at $159. All versions include the light, a USB-C charging cable, and a carrying pouch.
A black bear wandered into a cameraman’s live shot during a journalist’s report about a recent bear attack, startling the news crew during the broadcast.
The incident occurred during a live report on KTLA in Monrovia, California, on Sunday morning, as reporter Erin Myers covered an earlier encounter involving a woman who had been swiped on the leg by a bear while walking her dog.
As Myers previewed her story at the start of the 9 A.M. broadcast, the bear appeared in the background of the shot. Audible gasps and startled reactions could be heard in the newsroom as the animal entered the frame just behind Myers.
When the camera returned to Myers, the black bear was visible near a large trap placed in a driveway, where officials were attempting to capture it. Authorities from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife were on scene monitoring the situation.
“You can see the bear actually walking into the trap, or no, it was going to, but now it’s walking out,” Myers says during the report, while stepping back from the animal.
During the live report — which has amassed almost 1.6 million views in two days — the bear moved through the driveway and onto a nearby lawn before running into a yard as a car approached. It later disappeared from view while authorities continued monitoring the area.
Residents tell KTLA that the bear is believed to be a mother with a cub and may have been living beneath a nearby home for several months. Officials have not confirmed whether the animal seen during the live broadcast is the same bear involved in the earlier encounter, in which the woman sustained minor injuries and is expected to recover. KTLA reports that the earlier incident may have occurred because the bear was defending its cub, which is common behavior for mother bears.
“If you do see one [a bear], don’t run, walk back slowly away from it,” Myers advises viewers during the broadcast.
During the news report, Myers reveals that this is not the first time a wild bear has wandered into the cameraman’s shot during a live broadcast.
“This is the second time I’ve had a bear show up on live TV with me,” Myers explains in the report.
In October, Erin Myers was reporting from Altadena, California, when another bear entered her live shot. As she informed viewers about where to find sandbags ahead of a storm, a brown bear appeared behind her. The animal emerged from bushes, lifted the lid of a trash bin, and began rummaging through its contents. As this unfolded, Myers told colleagues in the studio that she was returning to the news van to keep her distance. KTLA later confirmed that Myers and the photographer “were safe and out of harm’s way.”
Just over a month ago, Chinese imaging technology company Shenzen Sonida Digital Technology Co. Ltd. (Sonida), joined the Micro Four Thirds system. Sonida makes Songdian-branded cameras, which are typically low-cost compact models.
Songdian cameras heavily emphasize affordability, and the company’s current lineup is full of cameras that can fairly be called “scameras.” At best, they are knock-offs of trendy models. The company has a Fujifilm X100-inspired compact camera that Amateur Photographer called “the worst camera I’ve ever used.” The company also has action cameras, instant film cameras, and even DSLR-styled all-in-one zooms. If there’s a reasonably popular camera model, there is probably a Songdian lookalike at bottom-dollar prices.
That said, Sonida is a very real, legitimate member of the Micro Four Thirds system, and OM Digital Solutions, maker of OM System cameras and lenses, is happy to welcome the company into the fold. Speaking on behalf of the Micro Four Thirds system last month, OM Digital Solutions said it expects Sonida to launch new Micro Four Thirds products soon to “further expand the enjoyment of imaging and video creation.”
As 43 Rumors reports, Songdian announced a pair of new compact cameras this week, including the DC226 Pro and the VE228. While these two cameras are not very interesting, sporting Type 1 and Type 1/1.4 image sensors and knock-off designs, the company also revealed that a brand-new Micro Four Thirds camera and lens are under development now.
Details are exceedingly scarce; all the company said is that it is making a Micro Four Thirds camera and lens, so the timeline remains opaque. However, this is still interesting news. While many of Songdian’s products may fail to excite dedicated, enthusiastic photographers, that does not mean Songdian’s Micro Four Thirds products can’t be good. Perhaps the company can survey the Micro Four Thirds landscape and fill a void with an interesting, worthwhile product.
43 Rumors hopes for “something PEN alike,” and that could definitely be a fun choice. Songdian has a proclivity for making versions of trendy cameras, so a new PEN-style camera makes sense.
The company could also opt for a compact Micro Four Thirds camera with a built-in lens. Nothing is stopping them from taking that approach, and it’s an area where neither OM System nor Panasonic has done much in a very long time.
This is, of course, all speculation. New product development can take quite a while, after all. For example, Hangzhou Xingxi Technology Co. Ltd., also known as YoloLiv, joined the Micro Four Thirds system in October 2023 but didn’t release its first Micro Four Thirds product until the YoloCam S7 last summer. Its first Micro Four Thirds lens, the unique 18mm f/1.4, was just announced last week.
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