Summary
- ArtCraft was the most popular subject in October.
- The Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards finalists and information about the new iPhones followed.
- The ranking also includes practical photography tips and developments in artificial intelligence.
- Space photography, filmmaking and photojournalism round out the list.
Which stories stood out on PTTL in October 2026? From free Adobe alternatives to wildlife, photographic technique, smartphones and photojournalism, these were the ten articles you read most.
The order reflects readership during October, regardless of when each article was first published. Here are the ten stories, with links to revisit the subjects that interest you.
The three stories at the top
1. ArtCraft: Can seven free apps offer an alternative to Adobe subscriptions? An exploration of seven open-source applications for image and video creators took first place. Alternatives to subscription-based creative tools were clearly a compelling subject.
2. Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2026: All finalists in photos and videos The Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards finalists revealed the unpredictable and humorous side of wildlife photography through images and videos.
3. iPhone 18 and iPhone Duo: Greek prices, storage options and availability Storage versions, Greek prices and availability for the new iPhones attracted strong reader interest.
From artificial intelligence to photographing in the rain
4. Musk unveiled his AI Odyssey — but it is only seven minutes long Elon Musk’s short AI Odyssey brought generative artificial intelligence in video production and storytelling back into focus.
5. Rain photography: Making the most of light, reflections and droplets A practical guide to photographing in rainy conditions, exploring light, reflections and creative uses of raindrops.
6. Xiaomi 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max: Two 200MP Leica cameras The Leica cameras and imaging capabilities of the Xiaomi 18 Pro series placed another smartphone story in the top ten.
7. Hubble photographs a galaxy edge-on, revealing its dusty structure An image captured by Hubble showed what photography can reveal when used as a tool for scientific observation.
Software, documentary film and photojournalism
8. Lightroom 9.6: Describe your edit and AI processes the photo Prompt-based photo editing in Lightroom illustrated changing ways of interacting with image-editing tools.
9. NAZA: Award-winning Gaza documentary to stream online for free Free online streaming of the documentary NAZA brought a socially significant filmmaking story into the ranking.
10. Israel: Settlers attack 64-year-old Washington Post photojournalist and steal her equipment The attack on photojournalist Heidi Levine raised urgent questions about journalists’ safety and their ability to document events.
What stood out this month
ArtCraft took the top spot with a subject that directly affects creators’ everyday work and costs. Wildlife photography and smartphone developments also drew attention, while the selection made space for practical photography advice, filmmaking and the rights and safety of photojournalists.
What we think
ArtCraft’s first-place ranking says a great deal about why creative tools deserve proper scrutiny. For a photographer or filmmaker, switching applications is not just about installing different software; it can affect workflow, costs and collaboration. Free alternatives are worth exploring without assuming they all match established professional suites in every respect.
It is equally good to see a guide to photographing rain appearing alongside new devices and AI applications. Technique and observation still matter. And the report on Heidi Levine points to another essential side of photography: people documenting major events must be able to do their job without being subjected to violence.
