Innholdsfortegnelse for 18-Mar-2017 i Amateur Photographer

CP+ is Japan’s major photographic show, where many new products are launched. AP’s very own Michael Topham was the only UK journalist to attend this year’s show, so don’t miss his exclusive interviews with leading industry figures as well as his first impressions of some fantastic new lenses from both Sigma and Fujifilm. Meanwhile, this issue’s main feature is all about landscape photography accessories. A great scene is essential for successful landscape photography, along with the best camera and lenses you can afford, but that’s not by any means the whole story. Turn to pages 16-22 for some expert tripod and lens filter tips, along with our bargain-packed buyer’s guide to more general accessories and bags. Now that spring is here, it’s time to get outdoors again! JOIN US ONLINE…

ADOBE has announced an update with a new set of features for its popular Lightroom app for mobile devices – headlined by the arrival of raw HDR capture for both Android and iOS users. Reportedly the new HDR mode works by scanning the scene in your images automatically to determine the correct exposure range and then capturing three DNG files that are then automatically aligned, merged, de-ghosted and tonemapped in the app. In addition to this update for HDR capture, mobile users will also benefit from small quality-of-life adjustments, including the ability to export the original file, radial and linear gradient tools, as well as being able to use gestures to rate and review images. The free update is available now. Visit www.adobe.co.uk.…

One of the biggest mistakes that many less experienced landscape photographers make is to assume that the tripod is a very straightforward piece of kit that requires minimal user input – you just erect it, attach the camera and take the picture, right? If only it was that simple. Even light travel tripods require careful thought and practice if you want to get the most from them. Tripod basics The majority of tripods have an extendable centre column which can be used to give you extra height. A common rookie error is to start by lengthening the centre column to the height required, leaving parts of the leg sections still collapsed. This may seem quicker than extending the legs as a photo opportunity unfolds, but it’s a false economy as…

LENS filters, such as polarisers and neutral-density (ND) grads, really need a feature in themselves, but don’t be intimidated by these very useful accessories. The judicious use of lens filters can transform your landscape photography and they are not really that complicated when you get used to them. Getting used to polarisers If you've not used filters before, circular polarisers are a good starting point – they can deepen blue skies and reduce glare and reflections, but have other uses. They are great for getting more accurate shots of wet rocks, for example, or ensuring wet foliage doesn't reflect the sky and take on a blue tone. As they simply screw on to your lens, many people keep polarisers on all the time, but don't get lazy and activate the…

Ordnance Survey Explorer map • £14.99 (weatherproof) • www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk There is something incredibly satisfying about marking your route on a paper map with a highlighter pen. Naturally, there are benefits to digital maps – the main one being you don't need to perform complex origami to fold them up. If you buy an Ordnance Survey map with mobile download included, you can have the best of both worlds. Explorer maps (with the orange cover) are the most detailed, showing rights of way, landscape features and boundaries. You can buy a weatherproof version, or a plain paper one. Berghaus Men’s Hillwalker II GTX boots • £130 • www.berghaus.com Whether you're navigating a Scottish bog or scaling a Cornish sand dune, Berghaus Men's Hillwalker II GTX boots are ideal for keeping feet…

Gordon Laing Gordon Laing is the editor of cameralabs.com and author of In Camera, a new book that embraces the art of JPEG photography with no post-processing. Gordon shares his personal work on Instagram @cameralabs and Twitter. Check out his reviews at cameralabs.com , on YouTube or in the Cameralabs Photography Podcast at iTunes. Some people think you need to shoot in raw to be a serious photographer. They believe pushing the shutter release merely marks the start of a journey of mandatory post-processing before being able to unveil an image to be truly proud of. Ultimately working with the idea that you can fix anything later. Post-processing is certainly necessary for certain photography styles, and there’s the fact that some photographers simply enjoy the process, but it’s far from…

The shortlist for the Professional, Open, Youth and Student competitions of the 2017 Sony World Photography Awards has now been announced. The range of images is as diverse as it is impressive, and one shortlisted photographer is Swedish-born Andreas Hemb. ‘I was sitting in a hide in the pitch-black night,' says Andreas of this image, taken at Zimanga Private Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, ‘when a herd of Cape buffalo appeared at the water hole. This image was taken using in-camera multiple exposure. I used a tripod, for the first exposure and flash for the buffalo. Without changing position, I took a second image without flash and exposed for the stars.' The overall winners will be announced on 20 April in London. Visit www.worldphoto.org. Words & numbers 49…

Interview AP: Fujifilm had a big year last year. How much of the success of 2016 do you put down to the launch of the X-T2? MO: With the X-T2 we developed new technology, not only for this camera but also for the X-Pro2. We developed our own new sensor and new processor, which came together to produce high image quality and an improved performance. This combined with the capability of 4K video. It has been very successful for us and we've had a great reaction from many users. We've sold more X-T2s than we ever expected. AP: What has Fujifilm done to resolve the stock issues of the X-T2 around the world? It's our understanding you couldn't make them fast enough? MO: As you know, last year we had…

It's likely you've seen Anne Geddes' work in some capacity. It could be through the18 million books or13 million calendars she's sold to date, or potentially it could be that you've seen the echoes of her work throughout the unparalleled influence that's peppered the burgeoning genre of baby photography. Geddes' work is notable for its whimsical aesthetic. The images can sometimes border on the surreal as Geddes' subjects are put in all manner of scenarios. Some are placed in flowerpots, others are dressed as bees. Where this book really succeeds is the fact that it is a retrospective tome that takes a thorough overview of her impressive output. Baby sitters This retrospective delves into the Geddes' archive stretching back to the 1980s. It should be apparent immediately that she is…

Vanguard ALTA SKY 45D backpacks • £199.99 • www.vanguardworld.co.uk The new range of ALTA SKY backpacks from Vanguard are sure to attract landscape photographers, as they can transition from 100% camera gear to 100% personal gear (or anything in between) in an instant. Perfect for hiking, the ALTA SKY 45D, features a breathable back panel, ergonomic harness, sternum strap, rain cover and waist support, making it ideal for carrying heavy equipment. The flexible side pocket fits a water bottle or flask, while secure zipper pockets house valuables safely. All ALTA SKY backpacks feature front and side-holding tripod systems, and a zipped pocket for laptops. They also boast a bottom hanging system for transporting outdoor essentials such as camping mats. The ALTA SKY 45D can hold a pro DSLR with anything…

You answered… A Nothing, I buy anything I need 15% B Price: it’s all too expensive 52% C I don’t need it: I have everything I want 18% D I like to try before I buy, but there are no shops near me 6% E I don’t buy new: I prefer to save money and buy secondhand 9% What you said ‘Price, price, price... anything you buy new will be obsolete before you get halfway through the instruction book.’ ‘I refresh my kit if there are significant improvements in the features that are important to me. Sometimes the pace of improvements is giddying.’ ‘There’s no way that I need any of the equipment that I own. However, as long as I’m able to pay for my needs, then spending anything…

Billy Currie, Bonnybridge Billy Currie is a photographer we've seen in the pages of AP before. His minimalist black & white approach to inner-city architecture has featured not just in the Reader Portfolio but also in a couple of features. Here we see Billy applying his distinct aesthetic to locations a little more rustic and coastal. Billy's images show that a minimalist approach, both tonally and graphically, can emphasise the dramatic qualities of location, no matter where it is. To see more of Billy's work visit www.billycurriephotography.co.uk 1 St Mary’s Lighthouse The clouds and sea blend into the horizon creating a uniform tonal platform Canon EOS 1DX, 24-105mm, 77secs at f/11, ISO 100, ND filter, tripod, remote release 2 Venice Here we find a perfect visual complement of foreground and…

Photography for the homeless Charity Accumul8 is working with several hostels across London to bring aspirational photography workshops to London’s young homeless; taking place in venues across the city that would ordinarily be closed to them. There will be an exhibition of the work from May. They are seeking pledges – visit accumul8.org.uk/donate. New Nat Geo and Manfrotto bags National Geographic and Manfrotto have teamed up once again to release a new bag collection – this time inspired by the blue and ochre of the Australian outback. The collection features Manfrotto’s Protection System for durability, and is aimed at enthusiast photographers on their travels. Prices begin at £59.90. Visit www.manfrotto.co.uk. Living World photography winners The Society of International Nature and Wildlife Photographers has announced the winner of its Living World…

PHOTOGRAPHIC retailers Wex Photographic and Calumet are set to merge, following Wex's sale to Aurelius, an investment company. Aurelius has bought the specialist retailer from Barclays for an undisclosed sum. Between them, Wex Photographic and Calumet Photographic have combined revenues of € 175 million. Aurelius has stated that the merger will ‘create a leading omni-channel offering servicing the enthusiast and professional market across the UK and Europe.' Wex Photographic, which recently acquired repair and rental specialist Fixation, is currently the UK's largest online specialist photography retailer, with more than 17,000 products available and a 4,300ft2 showroom in Norwich. Calumet Photographic, meanwhile, operates 17 stores across Europe, including eight in the UK. Founded in 1939 as Calumet Manufacturing Co., the company began by selling sporting goods before focusing on photography. The…

IF A trophy were to be awarded to a manufacturer for creating the most buzz at CP+ this year, Sigma would be on the receiving end. The recent release of four full-frame lenses, made up of three Art-series optics and one Contemporary lens, drew thousands of visitors to the stand to take a closer look. The first lens I got my hands on was the new Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary. Unlike Sigmas's Sport and Contemporary 150-600mm zooms that are aimed at a prosumer audience, this lens is designed to appeal to the hobbyist and aspiring amateur. No sooner had I rested it in the palm of my left hand did I start to appreciate how much smaller and lighter it is than telephoto zooms of comparable focal…

In my experience, gentlemen photographers of a certain age often seem to be worried about one thing more than any other. And it's not an issue like whether to shoot on digital or film, or whether to use prime lenses or zooms. No, their paramount concern is hiding the amount of money they spend on new pieces of kit for their hobby from their wives and partners. Strangely, this anxiety never seems to affect women photographers. Their partners are invariably sympathetic to such expenditures it seems, however indulgent. Older blokes on the other hand have to engage in almost daily acts of subterfuge. Disguising a new lens to look like an old one, hoping their new CSC will look so similar to their ancient DSLR to their uninitiated better half…

Tree hugger In response to Stuart Taylor's letter (Inbox, 4 March) regarding Lee Acaster's ‘Tree in Snowdonia', I loved it. I am not into modern pictorialism so most images that I see are not for me, but I was smitten. I found the atmosphere was not missing – it was perhaps alien to the club photography practitioner. It was about a tree rather than of a tree, and to me expressed the very essence of Snowdonia. Let's see more like this. Stefan Shillington, via email And there’s more... To be honest, Lee Acaster's ‘Tree in Snowdonia' image does not appeal to me, but as you rightly say photography is a broad church! Lee liked his image and I am sure many others did as well. Alan Mackenzie, via email Good…

Speaking on his satellite phone from somewhere in the middle of a Californian desert, Ed Caraeff is on fine form. This former photographer and art director, who later switched careers to become a chef, now lives out of a vintage VW camper van and travels across the US on his self-styled ‘bucket list trip’ (partly funded by selling his photography archive in 2015). His photography career began in 1965 during his high school days, in what he describes as ‘the age of innocence’, when his charm and a few crucial connections led to him photographing many of music’s biggest stars… Ed began taking photography classes because his first female teacher was ‘hot’, but he quickly became hooked on the art. ‘I was kind of intrigued by the concept of photography;…

Rope material The strap is made from the same type of rope used for mountaineering. This gives it a highly durable and rugged feel. Leather end pieces The Italian leather end details are embossed with Leica and COOPH logos. Colours The rope strap is available in four colours – night (black), glowing red, fire (red and black) and oasis (teal). • £55 • www.cooph.com At a glance • Different lengths available (100cm and 126cm) • Made from high-quality climbing rope • Available in four colours THE neck straps Leica provides with its cameras are known for being better than most, but rather basic in terms of their design and styling. One alternative that recently caught our attention is the COOPH rope strap – the latest collaboration between Leica and apparel…

Craig Roberts Craig Roberts is a travel and landscape photographer and writer. His work covers both the rural and urban landscape and he regularly writes about photography technique, creativity and how to get the most from your camera. He produces videos for YouTube and e6 Subscription (his multimedia platform for photographers), and runs online photography courses and workshops. Visit www.craigrobertsphotography.co.uk. 1988 Canon T90 Having cut my teeth two years earlier with a Pentax P30, my heart ruled my head and I blew some inheritance money on the best SLR on the market at the time. This camera was a thing of beauty. It was the camera that took me from being an amateur photographer to turning professional. It eventually died about three years ago! 1995 Mamiya RZ67 Back in the…

‘There is the benefit that you get 50% more shots per roll’ The square format has always been popular with fine-art photographers and is typically associated with medium-format cameras. But there are a handful of 35mm models that shoot square negatives, and the Zeiss Ikon Tenax I is one. Camera collecting can be confusing, sometimes cameras with very similar names can be quite different. For example the Tenax II, which also shoots square negatives, is a superbly built, but much heavier and bulkier camera, complete with coupled rangefinder. To add to the confusion, the Tenax II was released a year earlier than the Tenax I. Although it was first produced before the Second World War, mine is one of the post-war models made in East Germany by what was to…

‘Much more important than the equipment is a very simple lesson - look up’ In November 2016 Taschen issued a new edition of Reinhart Wolf’s semi-legendary book New York . In it, Wolf (1930-1988) draws our attention to the tops of buildings. Not the skyline exactly, because in this example you can see how a building towers over another; but still a long way up. Purely technically, the pictures are interesting because he sometimes used very long lenses on large format, with extension rails, multiple bellows and extra standards, but quite honestly, most of the pictures would have had very nearly as much impact if he had used 35mm. Much more important than the equipment is a very simple lesson – look up. Most people don’t, but there are often…