Innholdsfortegnelse for 22-Aug-2015 i Amateur Photographer

One of my most memorable days at college was when the cupboards were emptied and the studio was filled with all manner of continuous lighting, most of which was designed to be used for lighting movies. We were taught how to make light appear as if it were moonlight shining through a window, or how to make images look like stills from 1940s film noir movies. It inspired me to write about the film noir genre and its influence on contemporary photography for my dissertation. I loved looking at those classic black & white images, and the iconic actors in them. Portraits from that era of Hollywood glamour have a look all their own. With such a defined style, it’s easy to learn how to replicate the classic Hollywood technique…

OLYMPUS'S camera division returned to operating profit for the three months to 30 June 2015, amid rising sales and cost cuts. Olympus's Imaging Systems Business notched up a profit of 1.1 billion yen (around £5.7m), compared to a1.9 billion yen loss in the same quarter in 2014. Mirrorless camera sales rose 26% compared to the same period the previous year, boosted by strong sales of CSCs. Total net sales year-on-year grew 15.9%, to 21.5 billion yen. Earlier this year, Olympus's camera business reported an operating loss of 13.9 billion yen for the year to 31 March 2015, a 4.7 billion higher loss than 2014. Compact camera sales revenue for the quarter ended 30 June 2015 remained almost unchanged due to a shift towards high-end models, despite an overall 11% drop…

Damien Lovegrove You can view more of Damien’s portrait and beauty photography at www.lovegrovephotography.com, where there are more than 2,000 images arranged in 23 galleries, or visit www.passionphotographyexperience.com for more information on how you can join him on a photographic adventure The classic photographs of Hollywood's golden age conjure up visions of fantasy, romance and perfection – and these evocative images are still in great demand today. Establishments like Studio Harcourt in Paris, France, which was set up in the 1930s, have met this demand and continue to do so. In this feature I'll share the skills, formulas and style traits you need to light the Hollywood way. I learnt these from a retired lighting director when I was undergoing my lighting training at the BBC in the early 1990s.…

Sharp shots A big thank you for featuring Paul Ratje's photos in your Reader Portfolio (AP 8 August) – and a well-deserved spread over four pages. Such a piece on ordinary readers' work is almost nonexistent among today's photography magazines. Now and again, photography magazines browbeat us with repeated sets of photographs by the same old hacks and other famous professionals. Yet it's nigh-on impossible for today's gifted unknowns to be awarded such a worthy spread, and especially photojournalism. Back in 1953, at the age of four, I was allowed to take family photographs with my father's Kodak Box Brownie and Picture Post was my comic until 1957, when it folded. My favourite subject is still ‘positive people photographs', documenting ordinary folk around my home and wherever I travel on…

This is not the first time going compact has been a feature of my life. Back in 2004 I was instrumental in the way The Times changed its view of photography, when it downsized from the traditional broadsheet to the more modern and convenient compact format. That was a change that required a leap of faith, commitment and patience. I swapped to the Fujifilm X Series from a DSLR and 5x4 large format camera, because I found the cameras were getting in the way. The camera effectively became a barrier to my photography; but freeing myself up with a smaller and lighter body and limiting my lens choice took the indecision out of shooting landscapes. Without the camera acting like a brick wall in front of me, it made me…

Zkin Hamsa bag • £129 www.z-kin.com Callum McInerney-Riley tests a stylish bag ideal that is for a small camera kit Laptop pocket The rear of the bag has a padded pocket that allows users to safely store a tablet or laptop up to 13in. Divider pocket One of the dividers has a small Velcro-fastening pocket intended for storing an extra SD memory card. Adjustable/ removable shoulder strap There are four holes in the leather strap that allow around 4in of adjustment or the ability to remove it entirely. There’s also a buckle for length adjustment. At a glance • Water and splash-proof nylon/leather• Thick cotton inner layer• Fits a small DSLR kit with lens attached• Available in green or black THE ZKIN Hamsa bag provides ample space for a13in laptop, a small DSLR with…

Forest fires count as one of the most devastating disasters that can befall a community and, sadly, they're not uncommon – particularly in the dry and hot state of California. Here we see an image by Justin Sullivan that shows firefighters watching a large plume of smoke as it rises from the Rocky Fire on August 1, 2015 in Lake County, California. Over 1,900 firefighters battled the Rocky Fire that burned more than 70,000 acres since it began. Thankfully the fires have now calmed and thousands of residents in the area have returned home. However, a total of 43 homes and 53 outbuildings were destroyed in the blaze. 95 million Number of Nikkor lenses for interchangeable-lens cameras made since production began in 1959 Words & numbers “The more thoroughly a…

Like a hopelessly unreliable or prematurely rusty car, a duff example of a camera can put you off that make for ever – maybe unfairly. For me it was the Canon AE-1 my mother bought in Bath back in 1978. It tarnished my relationship with Canon and I don't think it's ever completely recovered. With its advanced plastic and alloy body, new lightweight FDn lenses and affordable price, the AE-1 was the darling of that era's photographic press. I read the reports avidly, of course, so when my mother turned to me, as a16-year-old photography enthusiast, for advice on what camera to buy for more serious picture taking, the Canon was the natural choice. It was eagerly acquired complete with 50mm and 28mm lenses. The trouble was this particular AE-1…

Lighting Spotlights with Fresnel lenses are best. Fresnel lenses achieve the magnification of a much thicker lens without the weight. The lens rear is stippled to give the light a super-smooth, soft-edged fall-off. Filters I use a Tiffen Black Pro-Mist filter with quarter strength to give a subtle diffused look to my Hollywood images. An old lens from the 1950s or ’60s used via an adapter can also work well. ScatterGel A ScatterGel or other gobo (go between) is used to break up the light to create mood and ambience. This simple piece of kit can really deliver the icing on the cake in terms of lighting. Barn doors Barn doors on back lights stop the chance of flare and help keep the image shadows under control. Barn doors on…

During the early '90s I had an idea for a new camera shutter, so I phoned Nikon Technical to obtain contact details. The technician said, ‘If your idea is based on an LCD shutter you can forget it, we've been working on that for years.' I'm still waiting. Imagine wearing a pair of spectacles. Through one lens is an electronic viewfinder; through the other is every functional detail settable for the miniaturised computer that you carry about your person. This in turn is linked to the lens in your hand, or epaulette, or on the side of your shoe – anywhere you want it. Who would know you're a photographer, with a lens small enough to take photographs through key holes and not attached to the processor you're carrying in…

Paul left his role as Picture Editor of The Times in 2012 to pursue his passion for fine art landscape photography Shoot for yourself Take the pictures that please you. Don’t shoot for anybody else. If you start worrying about what other people want or like, you won’t shoot pictures that you’re happy with. It’s quality time by yourself usually, so invest that time in something you enjoy. Don’t chase the light Go out when you least expect to get a great picture. Go out when the weather is bad. Don’t always look for that fabulous, wonderful light, because from my experience, it rarely happens. It may mean always standing in the rain, but you’ll get completely different pictures to other people Ð most of them are fair-weather photographers. Make…

Phil Pownall, Cheshire Phil has always been surrounded by the paraphernalia of photography, as his father was a keen photographer who owned both stills and 16mm cameras. By the time Phil had reached his teens he had built himself a darkroom and was processing and printing his own images. He is particularly fond of shooting the landscapes and seascapes of North Wales and is currently working on personal projects, as well as improving his skills at still life and macro. 1 Nefyn Beach Sunset The rich colours of this image, taken on a Welsh beach, help convey the tranquillity of a coastal sunset Nikon D80, 18-70mm, 1/90sec at f/8, ISO 100, tripod, cable release 2 Here Comes the Sun Phil has captured the golden glow of the sun as it…

WITH its new 20.3-million-pixel sensor, the GX8 brings a useful advance in image quality compared to previous Panasonic models. The expected boost in resolution is welcome, if not exactly groundbreaking, and high ISO noise seems slightly reduced, with ISO 3,200 very usable where on previous cameras it was a bit marginal. There also appears to be some improvement to low ISO dynamic range. I found that it's possible to pull about 3 stops of detail out of shadow regions before noise becomes problematic, although you'll need to use a touch of chroma noise reduction even at ISO 200. These individual improvements aren't necessarily huge, but together they help close the gap relative to the current generation of 24-million-pixel APS-C DSLRs, and it means that the GX8 has the best raw…

Resolution The charts clearly demonstrate the vast difference between centre and edge sharpness throughout the aperture range, and f/5.6 is the better performer on all counts. Although edge and centre come closer together from f/8 and beyond, diffusion erodes resolution to such an extent that the unification of sharpness across the frame is largely irrelevant. Sharpness isn’t one of the lens’s stronger points. Shading A degree of corner shading will be a feature of images taken with this lens no matter which aperture is used. The more dramatic darkening of the widest apertures moderates quite quickly, becoming less noticeable even by f/2 and remaining largely at the same level from f/2.8 until the aperture is completely closed down. Curvilinear distortion Some distortion exists, of course, but the levels of bend…

AT ONE time no self-respecting photographer would leave a lens unprotected without me, a skylight filter, and if they didn't use a skylight filter then they would use a UV filter. But neither my 1A nor 1B guise is very popular nowadays, thanks to modern digital cameras. So why was I invented in the first place? When colour film became popular, especially transparency film, a noticeable problem under some conditions was a blue cast that could detract from the overall colour of the picture. This is caused by blueish-coloured cold light, particularly in skies and clouds, hence the name ‘skylight' filter, and also, for example, in shadows in snow scenes. I am actually a very subtle magenta colour filter, with 1A filters being lighter in tint than 1B filters. Because…

THIS tutorial session is essential for amateurs who would like to learn the basics of filmmaking with a DSLR or compact system camera, and will cover everything you need to know to get more out of that red record button. Expert videographer Simeon Quarrie will provide you with the technical and practical skills needed to start shooting high-quality video, including: • Setting up your camera for optimum results • Essential shooting skills • The importance of high-quality audio Lunch will be provided and, as an added bonus, you’ll have the chance to get hands on with the latest Canon equipment. PLUS 10 lucky attendees could also win an exclusive practical afternoon session, to put their new-found skills into practice. To secure your place on this not-to-be-missed learning opportunity, please email…

IMAGES of the aftermath of bombing on St Thomas' Hospital in London have been released to coincide with an appeal for people to come forward with their memories. Despite huge bomb damage, both Guy's and St Thomas' hospitals remained open throughout the war, treating casualties from across London. Ten staff at St Thomas' lost their lives in the bombings, although amazingly no patients were killed. One photo shows a huge gap where St Thomas' Hospital buildings once stood, revealing the Houses of Parliament on the opposite side of the River Thames (see above right). The Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation has launched an appeal for people to come forward with their wartime stories. Sir Hugh Taylor, chairman of Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, said: ‘The first bombs…

How important is autofocus tracking with moving subjects to you? You answered… A Quite important, I use it occasionally 48% B Very important, I use it all the time 33% C Not at all important, I only shoot static subjects 13% D Autofocus? I only ever use manual! 6% What you said ‘Important-ish... I don’t do a huge amount of moving subject photography but when I do it’s nice to have AF tracking. That said, my cameras are all rather elderly by digibox standards and the AF, particularly the tracking, tends to be a bit slow, quirky and prone to go off focus at exactly the wrong moment’ ‘Not at all important, since I pan and use autofocus for each and every shot’ ‘Real photographers got by without these gimmicks…

Jianwei Yang’s black & white street images are striking – mixing the geometry of urban structures with shadows, light, a superb tonal range and the innate gift of precision timing when firing the shutter. Originally from China, and a computer programmer by trade, Jianwei has only been seriously shooting on the streets of Vancouver, Canada, since late 2010. His growing obsession with photography was initially motivated by a desire to document the lives of his children. ‘My father really liked photography, but was never really great at it,’ says Jianwei, a self-taught photographer. ‘I remember when I was a kid in China, he took courses and bought a Seagull camera. One time we went to a park and he took lots and lots of photos and was so excited. ‘When…

Bodmin Moor, Cornwall Ian Barnes Nikon D7000, 10-20mm, 1/30sec at f/11, ISO 100 LANDSCAPE photography is difficult. Not only do we have to get ourselves in the right place at the right time and make nature look tidy in the frame, but we also have no clues about when the right time will be – or what nature will do once we're ready to shoot. Here Ian has undoubtedly found a good place to view the world, and he's found a nice part of the world to draw our attention to, but I get the impression he didn't think nature was behaving very well. Tackling differences in brightness between the sky and the ground is a constant issue for landscapers, who usually employ either the dynamic range of the camera…

IT MAY not have the retro styling and overall charisma of its most direct competitor, the Olympus OM-D E-M5 II – and on first impressions you could be forgiven for thinking that it is oversized for its sensor – but once you get past this there's a lot to like about the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8. It fits nicely in your hand, and the large grip works well with long lenses. The control layout places most key settings at your fingertips, especially if you're prepared to spend a bit of time working through the customisation options in the menus, and this means that shooting with the GX8 is a fluid and enjoyable experience. The offset viewfinder may not be to everyone's taste, but there's no denying the quality of the view…

Data file Price £950 Filter thread 72mm Lens elements 13 Groups 10 Aperture f/16 Minimum focus 0.17m Length 82.4mm Max diameter 77mm Weight 586g I HAD a lot of fun using the Voigtländer MFT 10.5mm f/0.95 Nokton lens, and enjoyed the calm realism of the undistorted drawing that makes it suitable for technical subjects as well as everyday life. When images are magnified I was disappointed with the resolution at all but the central apertures, but when they're sized to more moderate dimensions it's easier to be content and to enjoy the other characteristics the lens has to offer. At 25% all images look good, but some may feel that leaves us all a little too restricted, especially for a lens with a £950 price tag. I love the close…

LAUNCHED January 2006 PRICE AT LAUNCH £299.99 GUIDE PRICE TODAY £75 KODAK'S EasyShare V570 was the first in a short series of remarkable dual-lens compact digital cameras marketed in the mid-2000s. The V570 incorporated two Schneider prism periscope lenses to help maintain a slim body design. One lens was an extra wideangle 23mm (equivalent) lens and the other was a 39-117mm zoom. Each lens was mated to its own 5-million-pixel CCD sensor, so the V570 was really two cameras in one body. It could also shoot MP4 videos, and had a handy 2.5in LCD screen. V570s are now very rare and likely to be targeted by collectors. What’s good The V570 was attractively designed and solidly built. In good light, the picture quality was good for a compact camera of…

When I first saw this picture, I thought it dated from half a century earlier and that it came from the United States, not Canada. With the dirt road, pick-up truck, and mother and child it is, after all, mightily reminiscent of the Depression-era Farm Security Administration (and its predecessor, the Resettlement Administration, and its successor, the Office of War Information). There’s nothing in the clothing or the hairstyles that pins it to a specific era, and you’d need to be a connoisseur of pick-up trucks to identify the model and year. Then you read the caption on the official Magnum website. The woman is the photographer’s wife, Ann; the child, his eldest son Moses, eating a wild pear. The pick-up is a ’51 that he bought for $200 and…