Innholdsfortegnelse for 24-Jun-2017 i Amateur Photographer

Autofocus is simple enough when shooting static subjects (the clue’s in the name), but suddenly becomes more challenging when you need to capture erratic or fast-moving subjects – sports, wildlife, kids and so on. To tie in with June, a great time of year to be out and about with your camera, we’ve got an in-depth guide to continuous AF and action photography, with plenty of real-world examples from seasoned pros. On the subject of AF, budget lens maker Samyang has impressed our notoriously fastidious testing team with its first autofocus lens, while on page 30 Michael Topham explains how to light and shoot the iconic Flying Scotsman. And did I mention that we recreate Edward Steichen’s iconic portrait of Gloria Swanson on page 24? JOIN US ONLINE amateurphotographer. co.uk…

La Movida This contemporary group exhibition takes the artistic and socio-cultural movement La Movida (the movement) of post-Franco Spain as its theme. Using a historical movement as the basis of a group art show produces an effect much like a movement itself – contradictory, confusing, eclectic and invigorating. Until 17 July, homemcr.org/exhibition/la-movida Photography tour The village of Bosham is at the northern tip of a winding coastal creek of tidal mudflats within Chichester Harbour, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Luke Whitaker, in collaboration with Light and Land, will be your guide on a coastal photo tour where you will take in the sights, light and smells. 13 July, www.lightandland.co.uk Using filters North Cornwall is full of beautiful locations such as Sandymouth Bay, Crackington Haven,…

AFFINITY Photo is calling its new app the ‘first fully featured, truly professional photo-editing tool' for the Apple iPad. The new iteration of Affinity Photo for iPad signals a new level of photo-editing capability for users in the studio or on the move. The app handles unlimited layers, contains a full library of adjustment layers, layer effects and live filter layers, and provides text and vector drawing tools. Layers can also be grouped, masked or blended for more complex compositions. Affinity Photo comes with a range of high-end filters including distortions, tilt-shift, glows and more. The app is compatible with the iPad Air 2, iPad 2017 and iPad Pro, and is priced at an introductory discount of more than 30% – £19.99 from the App Store. The normal price is…

APOY acclaim I'm writing to congratulate you on your presentational revamp of Amateur Photographer of the Year (AP 10 June 2017). First, I very much like the larger presentation of the images, and the fact that their captions are either beside or very near them. I think the captions too have increased in quality. These features make the overall layout so much more interesting and enjoyable to look at. To me, they breathe a whole new life into the competition. Next, it's very good to see the comments of a guest judge, and Tim Rudman is an excellent first choice. Similarly, the inclusion of a Crowd Winner category adds to the whole thing considerably. Finally, I very much agree with your view on the wide range of countries represented. I'm…

Wildlife Steve and Ann Toon Steve and Ann Toon are a pro wildlife photography couple with backgrounds in journalism, a shared passion for conservation, and a 20-year love affair with Africa, where they spend several months each year, often leading specialist photographic safaris. Visit www.toonphoto.com. Photographing wildlife is challenging, capturing great images of moving animals even more so – they’re often fast, unpredictable and erratic. The ability to acquire and maintain focus on active subjects is an essential skill if you want to capture pin-sharp, dynamic shots – it’s one thing you can’t fix in Photoshop. The latest autofocus technology has dramatically improved our hit rate for wildlife action, but understanding the capabilities (and limitations) of your camera, and how to utilise its range of AF settings is still vital.…

Do you have more than one lens? What about a tripod, carry case or any additional video or audio equipment? The value of all your kit soon mounts up – but would you be able to replace it if something happened? Cameras are designed to be taken out and about, whether to shoot your next landscape, capture wildlife or travel photos for your portfolio, or just to capture those precious family moments. Plus, if you’re passionate about photography, as well as investing your time, you’ve probably invested heavily financially too. That’s why we’ve teamed up with well-known insurance provider, Thistle Insurance Services Limited, to bring you the cover you may need. Amateur Photographer Insurance Services can provide protection against theft and accidental damage for your camera and accessories up to…

DESIGNED for portrait and location photographers and videographers on the move, AEOS is a bi-colour, location LED light with a unique ‘ultra-thin' design concept. Weighing in at less than 1.5kg and just 2cm thick, AEOS is one of the most portable lights on the market. It delivers a powerful light output of 5,750 lux at three feet, but is also one of the most energy efficient LEDs on the market, able to run for three hours at 100% power on a single 95W battery – more than twice as long as the industry standard. Unlike most LED lights with limited tilt angles, the AEOS uses a pro-level ball head as standard Our bundle includes: • Rotolight AEOS light • Pro Aluminium Ball Head • Power adapter • 95 Wh V-Mount…

Zipped side pockets Both sides of the bag have large, zipped pockets with space for all accessories Weather-resistant fabric Made from a water-repellent nylon, seatbelt-grade webbing and reinforced stitching, this bag isn’t going to fall apart any time soon Handles As well as the pull-out handle to roll the bag, there is a fabric handle to carry it upright, and another to hold it when it is laid flat Shock-absorbing wheels Specially developed, the wheels give a smooth and controllable movement At a glance • Doctor’s-bag opening • Roller or handheld • Meets most carry-on regulations • Large 28x46x22cm interior • £250 • www.tenba.com TENBA'S Cineluxe collection has been designed in collaboration with professional filmmakers, and each bag in the range has a different specification. The Roller 21 sits alongside…

LAUNCHED 1960 PRICE AT LAUNCH (WITH F/2.8 XENOTAR) £145 GUIDE PRICE NOW £800-£1,000 THE ORIGINAL Rolleiflex was launched in 1928 as the first truly compact, roll film twin-lens reflex (TLR). It marked the start of a great many quality cameras from German manufacturer Franke and Heidecke. The Rolleiflex 2.8F follows the usual TLR style of two lenses, one above the other, that move in tandem for focusing. The lower one takes the picture, the upper one reflects its image onto a ground-glass screen on top of the body, the same size as the negative image. The camera takes 120 roll film, which is wound with a crank. Shutter speeds run 1/2-1/500sec and apertures on the taking lens are f/2.8-f/22. Both are controlled by small knobs between, and either side of,…

Samyang has announced its third autofocus lens, the AF 35mm F2.8 FE, which will sit alongside the current autofocus lens line-up, the existing AF 14mm F2.8 FE and AF 50mm F1.4 FE lenses. The AF 35mm F2.8 FE has been designed for full-frame mirrorless cameras in Sony E mount, giving a focal length that best resembles the human eye. It's a compact and lightweight lens that weighs just 85g and measures 3.3cm in length. This makes it the smallest and lightest lens for full-frame Sony mirrorless – and priced at £279.99, it is £370 cheaper than the current Sony equivalent. For APS-C sensors such as the Sony Alpha 6000 and 5000 series, the lens is equivalent to approximately 52mm. Designed for everyday use, the AF 35mm F2.8 FE claims a…

Ian Beesley, the renowned Saddleworth-based artist, photographer and academic tells the story of photographing drift miners deep underground. He started the project using DSLRs, shooting colour, but switched to black & white film for two reasons. First, the DSLRs fell foul of the conditions – dust and moisture. A mechanical film camera fared better. Secondly, the miners wanted ‘proper' photography – black & white prints. After all, their world was black coal dust, the utter darkness contrasting with the white powder scattered liberally to reduce the risk of explosion. Their world was monochrome, and that's how they wanted it told to others. Communicators cannot afford to be self-absorbed. We have to think about how what we say, write or show will be understood by someone, and indeed whether it can…

Mono marvel I was interested to read the film guide technique in your black & white film issue (AP 3 June). It particularly raised a smile from me when I read about Kodak Tri-X and it was said to be able to be ‘pushed processed to ISO 1600'. Having done this many times I should also say that it gives good results, even at ISO 3200. While working on a local newspaper in Aylesbury in the 1970s, I did this each week for three years at Friars, the local music venue, shooting available-light pictures at gigs. The film does give very tight grain both at ISO 1600 and 3200, and not too much contrast – I aimed for Kodak normal grade 2 – if you diluted developers like D76 (in…

Resolution Below are details taken from our resolution test chart pattern (shown right) The G9 X II gets about as much out of its 20MP sensor as possible, recording around 3400l/ph at ISO 125 before succumbing to aliasing artefacts when shooting raw. Resolution holds up well at ISO 800 (3000 l/ph), but falls more rapidly at higher settings, and at ISO 12,800 we measure just 2200l/ph. Dynamic range The G9 X II’s 20MP sensor delivers good results at low ISOs in our Image Engineering tests, with over 12EV of dynamic range at ISO 125. But at ISO 400 and above it falls off quite quickly, reflecting increasing noise levels, particularly in the shadows. The top two ISO settings give very low readings, indicating that they’re best avoided for any serious…

Classic lens revisited A Kickstarter campaign to recreate the Lydith 30mm f/3.5 lens for modern cameras has been successful, more than quadrupling its goal. Originally introduced in 1964, the modern version of the Lydith has been updated with high-perfomance lens coatings and will be hand-produced in Germany by Meyer-Optik-Görlitz. The campaign is still open; to take part visit www.kickstarter.com. Latest products from LEE LEE Filters has introduced two new products, including its first solar eclipse filter (from £61), which brings the intensity of light down by up to 20 stops thereby controlling exposure and avoiding blow-outs. Also available in 50ml and 300ml sizes is the ClearLEE wash spray for cleaning filters thoroughly. Visit www.leefilters.com. MacPhun releases Luminar Neptune MacPhun has released an update to its popular Luminar photo-editing platform. The…

1 LensCoat cover Some of the most dramatic images I have taken have been during heavy rain or a snowfall, so it s crucial for me to have a completely reliable waterproof cover for my lenses and camera bodies. This allows me to shoot and transport my kit with confidence. 2 Pulse Camera remote Time-lapse photography is becoming increasingly important in my work. This remote, which fits in the camera hotshoe with one small cable attachment to the trigger port, works through a phone app. It allows me to run a time-lapse with wireless image review in the process, too. 3 Hoodman right-angle viewfinder When carrying out low-level photography on water, where my tripod is beneath the surface, this is an essential piece of kit. It also helps me to…

You answered… AI don’t – I just take my phone 2% B Usually just a camera and one or two lenses 47% C A camera, several lenses and a tripod 18% D The works – camera, lenses, tripod, filters and other accessories 21% E I don’t do summer holidays 12% What you said ‘I can’t afford summer holidays now, but when I used to go on them I would take two bodies (colour and b&w), a tripod, two or three lenses and a good supply of slide film.’ ‘Only what would fit into a small bag. In my case that’s three bodies and three lenses. Them there GM5s are tiny!’ ‘I voted for a camera, three to four lenses and tripod, though I’ve recently tried cutting down. When I went…

Our version To recreate this image, we had to experiment with the position of the lace. Firstly we needed to get the required depth between the material and our model and then the placement of the pattern. The original Gloria Swanson Edward Steichen, 1924 Steichen created this iconic portrait of Gloria Swanson in 1924. Captured at the end of the session after various costume changes, Steichen said in his autobiography A Life in Photography, ‘I took a piece of black lace veil and hung it in front of her face. She recognised the idea at once. Her eyes dilated, and her look was that of a leopardess lurking behind leafy shrubbery, watching her prey.' The image was published in the February 1928 issue of Vanity Fair. Towards the end of…

Ant Smith A native of Yorkshire, Ant now lives in Essex and became interested in photography while at school. After trying his hand at a range of genres, he’s now trying to carve out a distinctive style in flower photography. See www.antsmith.net. Polina Plotnikova Originally from Russia, London-based Polina specialises in flower still lifes. She’s a regular finalist in International Garden Photographer of the Year, and recently won a gold medal at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show photography competition. See www.polinaplotnikova.com. ANT has been a keen photographer since he was 13. ‘Photography brought me a lot of independence as a young teenager,' he explains. ‘It gave me an excuse to roam West Yorkshire on cheap-day bus tickets. ‘For years I have thought of photography as my “reason for seeing”,' he…

Resolution Our Image Engineering MTF tests reveal a lens that’s a little soft wide open, but that sharpens up dramatically on stopping down. The corners of the frame lag behind the centre for sharpness, but inspection of our test shots reveals that this reflects some curvature of field, with the corners being slightly out of focus in our test chart shots. The best results overall are obtained at f/5.6-f/8. Shading As we’d expect from a full-frame fast 50mm prime, shading is quite pronounced wide open, with about 1.7 stops of falloff in illumination at the corners of the frame. Stopping down reduces this rapidly, to about 1.2 stops at f/2. Beyond f/2.8, only a small amount of falloff remains visible. Curvilinear distortion Some barrel distortion is clearly visible in images…

Resolution On the 30MP Canon EOS 5D Mark IV we used for this review, the lens delivers fine MTF results from our Image Engineering tests. If there’s any kind of flaw, it’s a degree of softness wide open at 70mm, especially at the corners of the frame, but in real-world images this wasn’t much of a practical problem. At all other settings, it delivers plenty of detail, with the very best results across the frame obtained at around f/5.6-f/8. Shading Vignetting is far from severe, with a maximum of 1.2 stops fall-off in the corners at 200mm and f/2.8. At 70mm, the level of vignetting is lower, but it’s more abrupt into the corners, which can make it look more obtrusive. At all focal lengths, stopping down to f/4 reduces…

‘Trying to work out the symbols is an enjoyable part of the game’ Let’s start with the photographer’s own words: ‘Rather than impose boundaries between images, symbols and text, it integrates the three. The resulting ImageSymbolText bridges gaps between images and words and reaches beyond combinations of images and words.’ Is this anything more than pretentious drivel? It’s certainly easy to dismiss it as such, until you start thinking. Then you realise that it goes to the very heart of what photography is about. We find ourselves in the realms of semiotics, again easy to dismiss because it veers between statements of the painfully obvious and the rather more difficult question of what makes things painfully obvious. The photographic images on which the pictures are based are clearly manipulated, composited…