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Documentary photographer Walker Evans (1903-1975) was not only one of America’s most influential artists of the 20th century; he was a superb visual storyteller. His approach to photography was simple: “Stare. It is a way to educate your eye, and more. Stare, pry, listen, eavesdrop. Die knowing something. You are not here long.”

One of the first bits of advice offered to less-experienced photographers is to “get closer to your subject.” More advanced shooters know that moving in tight tends to avoid background clutter and emphasize the primary subject. Macro (or close-up) photography takes this tenet to the extreme and makes possible some very unique imagery as long as one owns the required equipment and employs proper techniques.

Here is some spectacular underwater imagery from experienced diver/photographer Rick Sanoian, captured with Canon’s newest flagship DSLR, the EOS-1D X Mark II. Sanoian is with Backscatter Underwater Video & Photo, a large purveyor of underwater imaging gear in Monterey CA, and you’ll see why he is so impressed with the 1D X Mark II.

Our Weird Lens Guru Mattieu Stern is at it again; this time with a review of a Jupiter 21M 200mm f/4 “tank lens” that he says has “astonishing contrast and bokeh.” Stern adds that the first time he used this lens he was “blown away by the quality.”

Selfies tend to get a bum rap from serious photographers these days, but you really have to love the latest self-portraits beamed back to Earth by NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover with Mount Sharp in the background. 

In our second “don’t-try-this-at home” post of the day, here’s an amazing GoPro video of supermodel/skydiver Roberta Mancino as she flies over active volcano Villarrica in Chile. She began her jump at 15,000 feet, before gliding to safety in a parachute.

Just like the Fujifilm X-Pro1, which was introduced in 2012, the new Fujifilm X-Pro2 mirrorless camera is based on an APS-C sensor, but it uses a completely new version of the “X-Trans CMOS” sensor and now offers 24 megapixels instead of 16MP. The X-Pro2 is the first camera of Fujifilm’s X system that uses this new sensor. (Note: The new X-E2S still uses the 16MP version sensor.)