Innholdsfortegnelse for 06-May-2017 i Amateur Photographer

To shoot raw or not to shoot raw? It remains one of the biggest questions in (digital) photography and we here at AP can see both sides of the argument. There is no doubt, however, that it makes sense to at least consider raw capture if you have a modern, high-resolution camera – you can be sure of getting maximum detail in your images, and raw processing software has become easier to use. So this issue’s feature on page 14 will help newcomers to raw hit the ground running, while reminding experienced raw shooters of time-saving tips. Other highlights include the winners of this year’s Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year and an essential guide to removing noise and sharpening images in Lightroom (which also comes in very handy…

Living in the city Eason Tsang Ka Wai uses photography and experimental media to create artworks on the theme of living in the city. His work provides a unique perspective on the experience of living and working in his hometown – the rapidly developing Hong Kong. Until 25 June, www.cfcca.org.uk Culture Shifts: Global This exhibition explores urban changes and the photographs were all taken in Liverpool or Hong Kong. Both cities grew out of ports and share a rich history and an increasingly intertwining present. Until 18 June, www.openeye.org.uk Introduction to Lightroom The Royal Photographic Society is hosting this one-day course to help new users make the transition to Lightroom. Tim Daly will be the guide. 13 May, www.rps.org/events/2017/ may/13/introduction-to-lightroom Pinhole photography…

FUJIFILM has confirmed that a free firmware update for its GFX 50S mirrorless camera will be available towards the end of this month (May). The updates will add new functionality for connecting the GFX 50S to a computer using Wi-Fi, as well as, and possibly of greater interest to users, improving the overall performance of exposure compensation and autofocus performance in challenging conditions such as low light. Please check back with us in the coming weeks for our full, in-depth review of the Fujifilm GFX 50S when we'll be finding out just how the manufacturer's first medium-format camera performs on test.…

During photography's first decades, its expense and complexity meant it was reserved largely for the big occasions that mark our lives – births, marriages, deaths and other significant moments that we wished to preserve as part of family history. As the tools of our trade became mass-market, we branched out to shoot holidays, the new car and a child's first day in school uniform. Digital photography and the rise of smartphones with half-decent cameras embedded in them, has inevitably led to a wild growth in the range of things being recorded. Photography has been democratised and opened to new folk who can experiment at hardly any cost. Valuing order over chaos Some arbiters of the photographic arts have interpreted this movement as the death knell for the traditional photographer and…

You answered… A Always – it’s my only camera these days 3% B A lot of the time as it’s always on me 21% C Some of the time 41% D Never, I think they are rubbish 20% E I don’t have a phone camera 15% What you said ‘For simple, straight pictures, they’re fine. But I like using long lenses, and I really can’t be doing without an eye-level finder.’ ‘Only as a last resort. I usually have a DSLR with me and it’s very rare for me to reach for my phone instead.’ ‘I often use it to document what I’m doing on a project as part of my primary research. I never use it for “photography”.’ ‘Far too often. I have a reasonably good camera on my…

Camera makers expect the raw photographer to want to make their own choices when it comes to things such as white balance, colour space and sharpening. So if you choose to shoot raw, you're entering into a commitment that you'll spend time editing your photos to bring out the best in them. There are no set rules for editing raws other than this – if it looks right, then go with it. But there are typically a few basic adjustments that we would make to almost every image. Let's take a look at five essential edits that, no matter what the subject, you should make. One thing, though: interfaces and controls vary between raw processors, but all of the best options, such as Lightroom, DxO or Capture One, will let…

SALADS are one thing, but how do you get effective shots of hot food, or volatile and even potentially dangerous liquids? Hein van Tonder, winner of the Food Bloggers category, explains how he captured his winning shot of caramel. ‘I took this image for my blog entirely in natural light, using a Nikon D750 SLR and 105mm macro lens (1/60, f/4.5, ISO 500). The caramel had to be hot so that it was the right consistency, and I think the conversation with my assistant went something like this: “It's burning my fingers!...” “I don't care, just pour!” I knew I wanted the caramel to “pop”, so I kept the styling very clean and the colours dark and muted. I didn't expect the caramel to make such a perfect pool and…

Round Two Hit the streets Street photography is the most accessible genre of all and as popular as it has ever been. Even if we don't live in a busy street, we almost certainly travel to, and work in, places where the rich tapestry of street life chugs along like a well-oiled machine. All you have to do is photograph it, and show the rest of the world what happens there. Of course, it can be tempting to head to the biggest, most bustling place you can find but you really don't need to. Street photography can be done as easily beside the quiet and seemingly empty village post office as it can among the crowds that stream past the Bank of England. The trick is to develop a keen…

The trouble with transitions Q I have been using varifocal glasses for years and they don't affect my photography or focusing and exposure. I'm now considering going to light-sensitive (Reactolite) lenses. Will they make a difference to how I not only see a shot but also to what I believe to be the correct exposure setting? Is there a recommended colour for the sunglasses bit of my new specs? One local optician offers a choice of grey, brown or green. Lawsyd (from AP forum) A There is definitely an element of personal preference that needs to be considered. Your glasses won’t be used exclusively for photography, of course. However logic puts grey-tint sunglasses at an advantage as there will be little distortion of viewed colour. As for a choice of…

ADDING to its popular travel-zoom compact line-up, Panasonic has announced an update to last year's TZ80. The Lumix DC-TZ90 features an updated 20.3-million-pixel imaging sensor, 4K Photo functionality and an LCD display that can be turned forwards for selfies. The 20.3MP sensor is a step up from the TZ80's 18.1MP. It offers higher resolution and is paired with one of Panasonic's Venus Engine processors. The company says it will provide good-quality images in a variety of scenarios. Autofocus is also boosted by the addition of Panasonic's DFD (depth from defocus) technology, with AF speeds now reduced to 0.1 seconds. The range of AF functions includes 49-point AF and Low Light AF. The 4K Photo function will allow users to shoot at 30fps and extract stills at eight-million-pixel equivalent resolution. Externally,…

At a glance In-body stabilisation Sony claims its 5-axis IS gives up to five stops’ benefit, and works with all lenses. Bigger battery The new NP-FZ100 battery has more than double the capacity of the NP-FW50 used in the Alpha 7 series. Dual SD Files can be recorded to both slots at the same time, or raw and JPEG sent to separate cards. One slot is compatible with the high-speed UHS-II standard. Ethernet A built-in RJ45 ethernet port reinforces the Alpha 9’s credentials as a top-end sports-focused machine. WHILE the latest round of mirrorless cameras have attracted a lot of attention from enthusiast photographers looking to downsize their kit, there's still a lingering perception that they are slower than DSLRs, particularly with regard to autofocus. With its latest model, Sony…

The Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year competition has become one of the biggest and most prestigious photography competitions in the UK since its inception five years ago, and the results of the 2017 competition have just been announced. This year’s competition was the biggest ever, attracting more than 8,000 entries from all over the world. As with previous years, AP is proud to be the official media partner, and both Editor Nigel Atherton and Deputy Editor Geoff Harris were honoured to be part of the distinguished judging panels. If you think food photography is just about carefully lit and perfectly styled food portraits, you are in for a surprise, as the genre is now very diverse and inclusive. Read on to learn all about this year’s still-photography winners,…

AS THE winners of this year's Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year competition reveal, there is much more to successful food photography than just close-ups of mouth-watering, perfectly styled dishes. One of the best food portraits in the 2017 competition was taken by Emma Brown. ‘I took the image of the two women with eggs whilst on assignment with Olive Branch Arts in the Sahrawi refugee camps near Tindouf in south-west Algeria. I had asked our translator, Zorgan, if I could photograph the distribution and collection of rations in the camps, which is mainly managed by the women. So we went to the Sahrawi Red Crescent distribution centre to find a huge crowd of women organising and receiving eggs. The Sahrawi community is a matriarchal one where women are…

James Paterson James is as skilled a photo editor as he is a photographer. His work has appeared in countless magazines and books, and in 2014 he was appointed editor of Practical Photoshop magazine. His subjects range from portraits to landscapes, architecture and underwater scenes. For James, Photoshop is more than just a work tool. Visit www.patersonphotos.com 1 What to do first Sharpening and noise reduction are two sides of the same coin, so it's quite handy that the main controls sit together within Lightroom's Detail Panel. But which to tackle first? It's a balancing act, so there may be some back and forth, but noise reduction usually comes at the start and sharpening at the end. 2 Tackle grainy noise The Noise Reduction Luminance slider within the Detail Panel…

‘It is the angle of view and the aperture size that determines the properties of an image’ Recently I discussed how the properties of an image, in terms of depth of field, diffraction and amount of light captured, can be determined by considering only what happens in front of the lens. One of the themes of those articles is that it is the angle of view and the aperture size that primarily determines the properties of an image. The consequence of this is that sensor size is not nearly as important as is often believed. The same photograph is produced from a given angle of view and aperture size, whatever the sensor size and focal length needed to do it. Thus a Micro Four Thirds camera with an f/2 lens…

Book signings at Photo London Photo London (18-21 May) has announced a series of book signings by photographers including Peter Fraser, Thomas Albdorf, Jacob Aue Sobol, Susan Meiselas, Karen Knorr, Stephen Gill, Peter Mitchell, Bettina von Zwehl, Cesare Fabbri, Ryudai Takano, Lina Scheynius, Thomas Jorion, Martin Essl and Julia Fullerton-Batten. See the full list at photolondon.org Lomography launches Simple Use Camera A reusable, compact camera equipped with a flash has been launched by Lomography. The Simple Use Camera comes preloaded with a choice of film – black & white, colour or Lomo ChromePurple – so you can start shooting immediately. Prices start from £15.90. Real estate industry drone dependant Drones are highly sought after in the commercial real estate industry. According to research by PricewaterhouseCoopers, the construction and infrastructure sectors…

PANASONIC has taken the wraps off a new premium wideangle zoom. The Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4 ASPH offers a range equivalent to 16-36mm on full frame. As a result, Panasonic says it will perform well across a large number of photographic styles. Built with 15 elements in 10 groups, it features an aspherical ED (Extra-low Dispersion) lens, three aspherical lenses, two ED lenses and an UHR lens to suppress spherical distortion and chromatic aberration. Panasonic's Nano Surface Coating technology is employed to reduce flare and ghosting. The new zoom is claimed to be dust-and splash-proof, and operational down to -10°C. It's also the widest Micro Four Thirds zoom that will accept screw-in filters. It's due in May, priced at £1,049. For the latest news visit www.amateurphotographer.co.uk…

I was delighted that you chose to mark Sebastiao Salgado's address to The Photography Show in Birmingham with a six-page article. Like you, I have long regarded him as the world's best photographer and had said to myself that if ever he were to speak in the UK, I would get there somehow. I flew from Aberdeen for the day, and was not disappointed. I did not expect to be brought to tears by his presentation, but I was. His humility was palpable and so rare in someone of such stature. I'll never produce images with a fraction of the power of his, but his bravery, determination and vigour are an inspiration. Has he changed my photography? Yes, he has, and I am forever grateful for that. Ian Macilwain, Aberdeen…

THINK food photography is fussy and complicated? Darren Hickson, winner of the Marks & Spencer Food Portraiture award begs to differ. He won his category with a home-taken image, featuring nothing more elaborate than a nicely styled bowl of salad, a paint-stained old table and window light. ‘This was one of a group of images for some promotional stuff my company was doing for the ‘Food Porn' awards, a celebration of great-looking food,' Darren explains. ‘I recently bought a new house and noticed there was beautiful afternoon light in one particular room, so I decided to bring my gear home that day instead of shooting in the studio. The stylist came along too. This was one of the last shots of the day, taken about half three to four as…

Manfrotto Befree Color • £175 • www.manfrotto.co.uk Andy Westlake tests an updated version of this popular travel tripod Quick release Combines a lever lock with a safety interlock, and employs Manfrotto’s popular and widely copied RC2 plate Rubber leg grip A textured grip on one leg makes the tripod more comfortable to carry, especially in cold weather Non-slip feet Triangular rubber feet are designed to give more stable support on soft ground Weight hook This can be used to hang your camera bag for extra stability but is far too small to hold most straps securely Carry bag The lightly padded bag is well made but has a rather short strap At a glance • Maximum height: 144cm • Folded length: 41cm • Maximum load: 4kg • Weight: 1.4kg MANFROTTO…

‘We see what we want to see. Only a moment later do we realise that it is like nothing we have ever seen in reality’ Gerard Touren sent this as a sort of e-New Year card for, yes, 2017. When I first looked at it, I thought it was two separate pictures and not a reflection at all; not even the sort of pseudo-reflection you can make by printing the same picture twice, one as a mirror image of the other. Then, when I looked at it more closely, I realised it was precisely a pseudo-reflection, but a particularly ingenious one. The top of the picture seems to show us just three people in an apparently deserted cityscape, an open sky above them. We have taken similar walks ourselves, perhaps…