Innholdsfortegnelse for 20-Feb-2016 i Amateur Photographer

A few weeks ago we followed motorsports photographer Nick Dungan as he took the Sony Alpha 7R II, a Metabones adapter and his Canon lenses to shoot an endurance race in Dubai (AP 16 January). This week Michael Topham sees how the camera’s 42.4-million-pixel sensor copes with challenging low-light conditions while shooting steam trains at night. You may ask why we have followed up our usual review with two field tests of the same camera. Well, while our lab tests let us look at certain details of the camera, we also like to see what it’s like to use in specific situations. And we have been very impressed with the Sony Alpha 7R II and its advanced sensor in particular. In fact, we have been so impressed that it has…

DATING from 1827, the precious RPS Collection archive has been held at the National Media Museum (NMM) in Bradford since 2003, when the institution was called the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television. Before then, it was kept at the RPS’s base in Bath. As well as housing the world’s oldest photographic negative, the RPS archive contains 8,000 pieces of photographic equipment and 31,000 books, periodicals and documents, charting the invention and development of photography over the past 200 years. Once transferred to the V&A, the RPS Collection will be stored, digitised and ‘made accessible for study’. Images from the Kodak Museum collection will be among those that will remain at the NMM.…

Another popular international competition is Travel Photographer of the Year, founded by professional photographer Chris Coe (left) and his partner Karen in 2003. ‘We started out getting entries from 30 different countries and now it's over 100,' he explains. ‘A big mistake is to assume that you only stand a chance of doing well if you enter images taken in very exotic destinations. We reflect travel trends, and travel to far-flung places has never been easier or cheaper, but actually the competition needs more pictures of the UK and Europe. We need interesting pictures of more familiar places, in other words, think of where everyone is not going and get some images from there. We tried to tweak the rules to prevent so many Buddhist-monk pictures one year, but still…

Now in its 51st year, WPOTY is one of the oldest UK-based competitions, and is organised by the Natural History Museum. According to Roz Kidman Cox (left), a member of the judging panel, originality and freshness of vision go a long way to help you get shortlisted. ‘It's surprising how many people copy compositions that have done well in the past, and that includes photographing the same subjects in the same places,' she reflects. ‘Keep in mind that pictures are judged anonymously and without the backstories – a picture must stand on its own artistic merits, without words. Also, the judges can only select from what is entered, and unfortunately, few people take original compositions featuring familiar subjects, despite the fact that there are a lot of familiar species that…

Of course, no article on competitions would be complete without mentioning Amateur Photographer of the Year (APOY), the UK's most prestigious contest for amateurs. ‘APOY has been running for nearly two decades and it's quite astonishing seeing the quality of images that flood in,' notes judging panel member Oliver Atwell (above). ‘It just goes to show that amateur photographers can easily compete with professionals. If you look at the Sony World Photography Competition, the Open (amateur) category stomps all over the Professional category. Amateurs haven't been infected with all the restraints, both technical and theoretical, that can restrict professionals.' So why do a lot of entries fail to get shortlisted? ‘We often see the same old scenes,' he says. ‘Also, and I can only speak for myself, I tend to…

You answered… A Yes 11% B Maybe, it depends on the friend 42% C No 47% What you said ‘Obviously it depends on the friend: some people I’d be happy to trust, but I’ve known others I wouldn’t risk lending a crowbar to because they’d probably break it’ ‘Many years ago, I lent my new Ensign Selfix 16-20 rangefinder to a friend to take with him on holiday. It never came back – he dropped it in the Thames. He hadn’t mentioned the holiday was a river cruise’ ‘I’ve lent my sister a compact when we both went on the same holiday. She knows nothing about photography, but still took some pictures that were better than mine. Can’t have that!’ ‘I am rarely without my camera, so it would be…

‘I take two approaches: my “work” routine and my “play” routine,’ says Adrian. ‘My work routine is the hour or half hour I have on my way to work, or on my lunch break (this will change soon, as I’m being made redundant). On those days I will cycle through the marshes, stopping to check some of the usual spots to see what’s about. I’ll have a quick scout around with the binoculars to decide if there’s anything worth giving some time to. If not, I’ll move on. ‘I’ve got a pretty good feel now for the areas and routines, and what to expect, but it can be a little frustrating when you spot something just as you have to leave. This is good for a challenge as it’s the…

Jama Masjid Mosque Tony Beane Canon EOS 5D, 28-135mm, 1/200sec at f/7.1, ISO 320 TONY saw Abhilash Surendran's picture of the Jama Masjid Mosque in our 9 January issue and sent in some images of his own from a visit he made to this magnificent building in Delhi, India. Abhilash photographed the whole façade of the building, with pigeons taking flight in the foreground, but Tony has moved in closer to find something of the life that goes on in the nooks and crannies of the building. I really like this shot of two gentlemen having a chat, with the wonderful stonework and archway framing them so well. The colour of the stone is fantastic, and the soft light picks the action out well, showing the depth of the scene…

PlayMemories Sony’s app download service lets users add new functions to the Alpha 7R II. There are apps for photo and movie effects, as well as others that allow your smartphone to function as the camera’s remote control. Customisation The Alpha 7R II allows you to set the camera’s buttons and dials as you’d like them. To make a change, simply head to the custom key settings option, which is located in the main menu. Durable shutter The Alpha 7R II’s shutter is tested to 500,000 cycles and features a braking mechanism that’s designed to cut mechanical front and rear curtain vibration by up to 50%. Battery A pair of rechargeable NP-FW50 batteries – the same as those used in the Sony Alpha 7R, 7 II and 7S – are…

A question of priorities Q After ten years with my trusty old Canon EOS 5D, I have recently updated to the EOS 6D, taking advantage of the January sales. It's an amazing camera and a big upgrade, but a few things are confusing me. One setting I'm trying to understand is ‘highlight tone priority'. Canon seems to be saying that if I turn this on, I'll magically get more highlight detail. This sounds great, as I often used to have to underexpose pictures by a stop or so to avoid losing details, then adjust them back when processing from raw. Does it work in this way, and are there any disadvantages to turning it on all the time? Anthony Templeton A Canon’s ‘highlight tone priority’ (HTP) setting does indeed work,…

LAUNCHED Ensignette 1 1909, Ensignette 2 1912 PRICE AT LAUNCH Ensignette 1 30s (£1.50), Ensignette 2 50s (£2.50) GUIDE PRICE TODAY Ensignette 1 about £50, Ensignette 2 £55-£75 THE ENSIGNETTE was launched in 1909 as the first all-metal British camera and took six 1.5x2.25in exposures on a new size of paper-backed rollfilm, also made by Houghton, called the E1. The Ensignette 1 (above) sold so well that other film manufacturers climbed on the bandwagon, with the Barnet and Selo brands calling the size No 28 and Kodak launching the 128. Initially, there were two models, one with a fixed-focus f/11 meniscus lens for 30s (£1.50), the other with an f/5.6 Ensign Anastigmat at 70s (£3.50). Within months, the range was augmented by the Ensignette 1b with an f/5.6 Cooke Anastigmat…

‘That box is the most extraordinary expression of alienation… it’s a transparent burqa, another means of control’ The more we look at pictures, the more we see in them. I sometimes feel guilty when I walk into an exhibition in Arles, France, glance around it, and then walk out again without paying further attention. I reflect upon the difference between pictures with impact and pictures with staying power. But, increasingly, I suspect that the best pictures have both. We have all seen pictures where our immediate reaction is ‘Wow!’ but where that reaction rapidly fades. It may take a second or two, or several minutes, during which we try to analyse what is so great about the picture and find that, actually, there’s not much. This is quite different. Aesthetically,…

A FAMILY self-portrait that was rudely photobombed by a grinning horse has been declared the rightful winner of a competition, despite a complaint that the horse's owner had not given permission for the shot. David Bellis, from Prestatyn, Denbighshire, had entered the controversial photo showing Betty the horse in the ‘Made Me Smile' competition run by Thomson Holidays. Bellis said the photo – which caused a social media frenzy – was taken on a public footpath. Captured by David's three-year-old son Jacob, the selfie went on to win top prize, prompting the horse's owner Nicola Mitchell to reportedly claim she had a right to a share of the £2,000 holiday. However, Thomson said the result stands.…

Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year has grown exponentially, attracting 20,000 entries since its inception in 2011, as well as some big-name judges including food critic Jay Rayner and AP editor Nigel Atherton. According to judge Elizabeth Galbraith (left), ‘Following fashion and trends is a big mistake that entrants make. Sometimes it looks as though holiday snaps have been submitted. If you're entering something shot on the hoof then it has to be exceptional.' David Griffen, overall winner of the 2015 competition (see image above), reveals the planning behind his success. He explains, ‘This was the third time I'd entered, and I thought, “Right, let's treat this like any other job”. So I wrote my own brief, starting by researching previous winners and trying to find a theme. I…

Weighty issue I had to give up my Nikon D7100 because it had become too heavy for me to use comfortably. I replaced it with a D3300 at almost half the weight. However, in Michael Topham's article on the Nikon D5 and D500 ( First Look , AP 30 January), there is no mention of weight. For my age group (mid-70s), all other detail is irrelevant if one cannot hold the camera. Ivan Strahan, Co Down The rise of mirrorless cameras and the filtering down of advanced technology from enthusiast DSLRs to entry-level models means there's never been a better selection of lightweight cameras boasting impressive specifications to choose from. I sympathise with your predicament and the fact the Nikon D3300 is around 40% lighter than the Nikon D7100 is…

HOLKHAM Bay is a stunning area of the north Norfolk coast and is part of the Holkham National Nature Reserve. Its incredibly varied landscape includes huge expanses of sand, beautiful dune systems, marshland, saltmarshes and woodland. Aside from opportunities for landscape photography, the whole area is a haven for wildlife. Summer brings colonies of terns and winter sees pink-footed geese flying over the bay at the end of the day. It is also common to see barn owls and even marsh harriers at the nearby marshes. There are three possible parking places for access to Holkham Bay. The easiest is in the village of Holkham at the Lady Anne's Drive car park, which is a lovely tree-lined avenue. The entrance to the car park is on the coastal A149 just…

Paul Clifton, Surrey While he works in a variety of genres, Paul identifies portraiture as his first love, whether it be adults, children or, as we see here, animals. These images are the result of Paul's ‘mega dog session', where he shot more than 20 dogs in eight hours. ‘I met some lovely people and stunning dogs,' says Paul. See more at www.paulcliftonphotography.com. Mega Dog Session No 5 1 Getting the right angle here was a challenge. However, the introduction of a treat resulted in a nice side shot Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 24-70mm, 1/160sec at f/10, ISO 100 Mega Dog Session No 2 2 This dog, with its full eyes and titled head, is a lovely portrait. Sadly, the dog died some weeks later but the owner was…

At a glance • Windproof • Breathable • Warm down/ synthetic loose fibrefill insulation • Lightweight • Easily packed away Insulation Filled with 90% duck down and 10% feather, the Zenon has a 700-cubic-inch down fill power, while the shoulders and sleeves have Fibercloud insulation. Two side pockets With two side pockets, the jacket can be rolled up easily and packed away in the left-hand pocket should conditions warm up. Weight Tipping the scales at a lightweight 400g, you hardly know you’re wearing it. • www.jack-wolfskin.co.uk • £130 A DECENT technical jacket can make all the difference out in the field, keeping you warm while getting those vital shots or when trudging back to the car or a café. German outdoor-clothing company Jack Wolfskin has a heritage dating back 35…

At a glance • 42.4MP, full-frame, Exmor R CMOS sensor • 0.5in, 2.4-million-dot OLED EVF • ISO 100-25,600 (50-102,400 expanded) • 399 phase-detection AF points • 5fps continuous shooting • 4K video (100Mbps) • £2,599 body only It's 6pm on a Friday, and it's usually around this time that I finish up at the office and take a ten-minute stroll to the station to catch a train home. Tonight isn't any ordinary Friday in London, though, and instead of walking through Waterloo Station's congested concourse I find myself wandering onto a deserted platform in Bewdley, a small Georgian town in Worcestershire, where smoke gently rises from the chimney of the booking office, and lights illuminate the elegant canopies and station footbridge. The reason for being so far from home is…

Sony names winners Fine-art photographers RongRong & inri have won the Outstanding Contribution to Photography prize at this year’s Sony World Photography Awards. The husband-and-wife team will be honoured for their ‘significant impact on Asian photography’ and for shaping contemporary photography at the Sony World Photography Awards ceremony on 21 April. Their work will go on show at Somerset House, London from 22 April-8 May. Leica doubles cash prize Leica has doubled the cash prize for best newcomer in this year’s Oskar Barnack Awards to €10,000. Professional photographers and those under the age of 25 are urged to enter the awards, which offers the overall winner €25,000. Now in its 36th year, the awards will be open for entries from 1 March-15 April. Photographers should demonstrate powers of observation, and…

THOUSANDS have signed a petition against the ‘cultural asset-stripping' of West Yorkshire, following the announcement of plans to move the historic RPS Collection from the National Media Museum in Bradford to London. The move to the V&A – expected to take place this summer – aims to create an international photography resource centre at the London museum, which already holds 500,000 photos and the ‘single largest collection on the art of photography in the world'. However, almost 25,000 people have backed a petition calling on the government to intervene and prevent the Science Museum Group (SMG) from relocating the 400,000-strong photographic archive. ‘This is pure asset-stripping. It will endanger the long-term viability of the Bradford museum and further concentrate the nation's cultural treasures in an already grotesquely bloated capital,' claims…

Back in 2012 I wrote a feature lamenting the passing of 127 film,100 years after its introduction. At the time this was accurate, but I'm delighted to say that limited supplies of the format are available once more – although it doesn't come cheap at around £10 a roll. My fondness for127 cameras stems from their compact size. They are often little brothers to well-known models with names such as the Baby Rolleiflex, the Baby Ikonta and even the Baby Brownie. The Komaflex-S looks like a scaled-down version of the Kowa Six, a squarish waist-level SLR, sometimes known as the poor man's Hasselblad. In fact, the larger version came several years after this127 camera, which was made around 1960. The camera poses a few puzzles, not least its name. The…

Take a view – Landscape Photographer of the Year was founded in 2006 by well-known British landscape photographer Charlie Waite (left), with a total prize fund of £20,000. The organisers also publish a book of the best entries and host an exhibition. Its sister competition, USA Landscape Photographer of the Year, is also well supported. ‘It's impossible to say what catches the judges' eye and what doesn't – I couldn't say, “Go and do this and you will win”,' says Waite. ‘One year, a little dog at the end of a pier won it, another [year] it was a stunning landscape of the Old Man of Storr in Skye. We used to get a lot of images of sunsets and sunrises, long exposures with glassy water and boulders, but now…

Depending on the competition rules, you might need to enter a portfolio of images, and this is an area where many entrants fall down. ‘Often you get three great images and a filler,' says Chris Coe of Travel Photographer of the Year. ‘Interestingly, younger photographers seem better at shooting to a brief. It's always a good idea to get a fresh pair of eyes to check your portfolio before submitting.' Again, this point is echoed by the 2014 winner Philip Lee Harvey (see images left): ‘For portfolios, you need to have a continuity of a style and approach. It's not enough to submit odd, random shots – they need to have been thought through as a narrative.' Thinking in terms of a portfolio can be hard if you are mainly…

With astrophotography more popular than ever, it's no surprise that this contest, co-organised by the Royal Observatory Greenwich, attracts an astronomical number of entries. ‘I have been a judge since 2009, and the thing that really gets judges is the initial “Wow!” moment when you first see a great entry,' says astronomer and judge Dr Marek Kukula (above). He continues: ‘So we're talking about great colour, composition, and a really interesting science angle and story.' Kukula also reckons clichéd images and over-processing are a big turn-off. ‘Some processing is OK and we are not draconian about it, but really garish colours in the aurora borealis, for example, stick out,' he reveals. Kukula is also keen to emphasise that potential entrants shouldn't rule themselves out if they don't have any jaw-dropping…

Time to visit Holkham Bay is an all-year-round location, but for me it is at its most beautiful in autumn and winter when it has a real sense of wildness. In summer a wonderful carpet of sea lavender appears on the saltmarshes, but at that time of year the bay can be very busy with visitors. First or last light is the best time of day to shoot, and on a stormy winter day look for opportunities in the woodland, such as the incredible twisted shapes of some of the pine trees. If you can plan a visit with a high tide you may see Holkham Gap fill with tidal waters, which is an incredible sight, but do respect the tide – it is easy to position yourself on top…

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Resolution The resolution of this lens is extremely impressive as is clearly illustrated in our Applied Imaging tests. The graph tells us the sharpness in the centre at f/1.4 is excellent and only gets better when it’s closed to f/5.6. Users can be confident of closing the lens down to f/11 when needed. Beyond f/11 the centre and corner sharpness drops due to the introduction of diffraction, so it’s recommended to avoid f/16 and f/22 when it’s possible to do so. Shading The key attraction of this lens is its fast aperture and users will find themselves exploiting it to create an extremely shallow depth of field. Corners appear approximately 1EV darker than the centre of the frame at f/1.4. Stopping the lens down to f/2 sees an immediate improvement…

1 Canon EOS 5D Mark III Its accuracy and quick focus make this my favourite body for location portraits, giving me confidence in capturing the changing light and expressions of the subject. The wide ISO range allows me to shoot in low-light conditions, with minimal camera shake and noise. 2 Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM This lens is brilliant for low-light portraits, allowing me to separate my subjects from distracting external elements and creating a smooth background bokeh. It has enabled me to shoot portraits I couldn’t even contemplate using slower lenses. 3 Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L This is a general-purpose lens: it’s great for giving context in environmental portraiture by being wide enough to show the subject in their own surroundings while staying prominent in the frame. It…

‘It is quite natural that with any release from this company, there will be a flurry of speculation over the sensor source’ Nikon has introduced an interesting pair of cameras in the D5 and D500. The brand has a history of shopping around for its sensors, so it is quite natural that with any release from this company, there will be a flurry of speculation over the sensor source. A Nikon representative is on record as saying that the two sensors share the same architecture, which some have taken to mean that the manufacturer is the same. The D5 sensor seemingly originates from the same design team that produced the D4 and D3 sensors before it. Design teams have a tendency to establish their own practice, and so will develop…