Innholdsfortegnelse for 05-Aug-2017 i Amateur Photographer

What is the one thing you need for any successful photograph? A fast, sharp lens? A full-frame sensor? No – it’s good light, or to qualify that, light good enough to deliver the photographer’s intentions and do justice to the subject. Outdoor photographers know all about the benefits of shooting at the best times of day (usually dawn or dusk), but studio photographers need to be able to master and shape artificial light, too. So this issue is dedicated to light in all its forms. As well as a comprehensive guide to making the most of glorious dawn and dusk light by David Noton, you’ll find lots more, including a guide to the best lighting accessories (some of which you may own already, such as an anglepoise lamp). We hope…

Eadweard Muybridge This exhibition, on show at Beetles + Huxley, will showcase 65 collotype prints made by the Eadweard Muybridge in 1887 from his influential series Animal Locomotion, which features images of animals and people captured mid-movement. Until 2 September www.beetlesandhuxley.com Yorkshire Photographic Union 2017 As part of the Northern Summer of Photography, the Huddersfield Art Gallery is displaying the best amateur works from 75 Yorkshire photographic clubs. Here you can see 200 mounted prints and a number of digital images. Until 2 September https://tinyurl.com/y96eq8fh Sunrise landscapes Landscape photographer and LPOTY winner Andy Farrer will be on hand to show you how to make the best of sunrise across the stunning location of the Jurassic Coast, which runs from Exmouth to East Devon. Book well in…

ADOBE has announced a new host of updates for its iOS and Android Lightroom Mobile apps, including both cosmetic changes and fresh features. Lightroom for iOS has seen some user-requested tools find their way onto the app. Users can now use their fingertips to paint selectively in enhancements to specific parts of their images. The Details tab has been added, offering control over sharpening and noise reduction for the whole image. Finally, the interface for the tablet version of the app has been redesigned. The android version of the app has been redesigned from the ground up, although with no specific new features, with a modern user interface that Adobe promises will feel more natural.…

The legal dispute currently going through the US courts over the ownership of the ‘Monkey Selfie' is so farcical that it sounds like a Monty Python sketch. But it is no laughing matter for the photographer, David Slater. Back in that Indonesian jungle, when Slater first saw that now famous image that he had, through skill, patience, and coaxing, coerced a macaque into taking of itself, he could scarcely have imagined how much trouble it would cause him, first with Wikipedia and now with PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), who have brought this case. At the core of the argument is whether, if an animal takes its own picture, it is legally the owner and copyright holder of it. If so, then not only does Slater not…

Don’t be scuppered by bad weather A couple of years ago, I set myself the challenge to go out and shoot on a dull, drizzly day and it changed the way I view what some might term ‘bad weather'. I no longer view these conditions as ‘bad weather', just different weather with different opportunities. For landscape photography, Neutral Density (ND) and ND graduated filters can be used to create long exposures and bring out detail in the sky. Long exposures are also easier to achieve during the daytime on overcast days and so you can capture motion blurred clouds and silky water more easily. I frequently hear photographers saying that they shoot black and white in overcast conditions, but sometimes you can capture the mood of the scene better in…

Compass Most of us carry phones loaded with apps like PhotoPills, but when I need mine most I often find it unresponsive, especially when I’m far from the madding crowd. That’s why I always still carry a compass; it’s low tech but fail-safe. Tripod  potential of the light on the land as it varies throughout the day, a good tripod remains the most important piece of kit a photographer owns. DSLR with high ISO The high ISO capabilities of cameras such as the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II allow photographers to shoot handheld at night, opening up a world of new possibilities. ND filters Neutral density graduated filters really come into their own when you are shooting straight into the light, helping to balance the exposure difference between the sky…

‘It’s all about the mood, story and the feelings of solitude’ Simon Baxter Simon Baxter is a landscape photographer who specialises in capturing the atmosphere and character of quiet and obscure local woodland. He has a YouTube channel with video blogs offering tips and inspiration as he explores the great outdoors with his dog, one-year-old labradoodle, Meg. Visit www.baxter.photos. Living in a small town in North Yorkshire, I spent much of my childhood playing in the local forest – exploring and building hidden dens. In later years, I continued to spend many hours in the forest as an avid mountain biker. I’d tear through the trails, passing the trees with as much speed as possible. This ended abruptly upon injuring my back in 2012. The difficult years and resulting chronic…

The Sigma 150-600mm DG OS HSM lens is a high-end zoom designed to meet the demands that photographers require in challenging conditions, such as wildlife photography. The lens features an updated Optical Stabilisation (OS) system with accelerometer, which improves the vertical and horizontal panning that is essential for wildlife images. By connecting the USB cable to a computer, the Sigma USB dock enables photographers to update the firmware of the lens and customise its features. The prize value is £1,039.98.…

Working with Smart Object layers DAVID Fairhead photographed this recreated medieval street at Archeon in the Netherlands using a Nikon Df with a super-wide zoom lens. It looks like a fascinating place to visit, although I'm sure the real thing wouldn't have been so clean and tidy! I liked David's original interpretation, where he chose to add more light and shade contrast to the buildings and added a darkened sky. What I did here was something similar. However, I found it tricky to balance the detail in the sky with that on the buildings. I therefore chose to process the image two ways. First to get the lighting on the houses looking right, and second to achieve an optimum exposure for the sky. I then merged the two versions using…

‘A lens designed to be built in one factory could end up being quite different from a lens for another factory’ My attention was drawn recently to a number of interesting lens patents that have been posted on Camera-wiki (camera-wiki.org/wiki/ lens_patents). While not every design is patented or patentable, many companies will take out a patent if they think it contains original intellectual property. Lens designs are particularly easily patentable, since every configuration is in detail different, so the claims in lens patents tend to be along the following lines: ‘A first lens group having positive refractive power, a second lens group having negative refractive power, a third lens group having positive refractive power, an aperture stop, a fourth lens group having a positive refracting power, a fifth lens group…

Good things come to those who wait I was interested to read your feature on editing out distractions (AP, 22 July). The main technique I have employed is patience. Instead of spending 15 minutes cloning out objects from an image, you could spend the same amount of time (or less) when making the exposure in the first place. For example, I take quite a lot of city shots, and tourists are a constant distraction to an otherwise uncluttered composition. I have been delighted with the results of long exposures (30secs to 10mins) in being able to remove people from a busy environment. The only special equipment needed was a tripod and ND filter. The other side to patience is simply waiting for a moment when people are not in the…

1 Canon EOS 7D Mark II When I bought this camera, it was the number one APS-C for autofocus speed and the best compromise in terms of weight and quality. I love using its joystick to shuffle through focus arrays and I use the three custom settings on the mode dial all the time. 2 Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM This is a great wildlife lens. It’s sharp at the long end where it’s wanted and versatile enough to zoom back when I want to include more of the environment. 3 Canon EF 1.4x III extender This makes the 100-400mm lens a 140-560mm lens (in 35mm terms 224-896mm). Unfortunately, it means I can only use the 7D Mark II’s centre point to compose, but sometimes that’s better than…

Grips Rubberised grips on two of the legs make the tripod more comfortable to carry, especially in cold weather. Spirit level A small bubble level on the ‘spider’ assists with getting the camera level, and includes a suspension loop for hanging a weight to gain extra stability. Reversible screw The mounting screw can be reversed to accept heads with either 1/4in or 3/8in sockets. Accessory connector The 3/8in Alta Link screw socket allows the attachment of a range of accessories such as video lights or reflectors. • £189 • www.vanguardworld.co.uk MOST tripods currently follow a ‘travel' pattern, with legs that reverse fold around the head for a more compact size. The Vanguard Alta Pro 2+ 264AT, however, is based on a rather different concept. Its legs fold conventionally, but it…

Datacolor Spyder5ELITE+ upgrade offer Colour management solutions company Datacolor is offering all display calibration owners the chance to upgrade to Spyder5ELITE+, the company’s ultimate display calibration device and software, for a fraction of the price. Until 31 August users can save £130 on the package, which will also include a 90-day Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan membership. See www.datacolor.com/promo/crossgrade15. Campaign to recreate legendary Glaukar 3.1 In 1910 lens maker Emil Busch pioneered one of the most important lenses of its time, the Glaukar f/3.1. Photographers Benedikt Ernst and Firat Bagdu have launched a Kickstarter campaign to bring the Glaukar 97mm f/3.1 into the modern age. See kickstarter.com. Jessops opens in York Jessops has opened its doors to a new store in York, its 58th since it was bought out of…

AP reader Brian Dion has developed a way to get close to the ground for those impractical shots – the Slingpod. He has built a system for taking pictures that might otherwise prove difficult, by placing the camera on a plate that can then be lowered safely down to ground level and triggered with a remote release. Inspiration struck a few years ago. ‘I wrapped a remote cable around my lens and held both camera strap and remote switch in one hand and got some really good shots,' he writes. Dion hopes that the Slingpod will help older people or those with wheelchairs wanting to shoot closer to the ground. For more on this ingenious system visit www.briandionphotos.com. For the latest news visit www.amateurphotographer.co.uk…

WHILE Slater doesn't regret taking the monkey selfie, he is kicking himself for allowing his agent to distribute the original high-res version to the press when the Wikipedia dispute first erupted. As he explains, ‘If you are contacted by the press, give them the smallest copy they are happy with,' he advises. ‘My agent handed out the full-res image in case somebody wanted to turn it into a poster. We soon lost control of it online, as bots are trawling the internet all time for the best quality images.'…

You answered… A Never – I’d rather delete the shot 20% B Occasionally, when I really couldn’t reframe the shot 46% C Regularly – a bit of ‘gardening’ is fine 25% D All the time, as I like digital manipulation 4% E I wouldn’t know how to remove objects even if I wanted to 5% What you said ‘I sometimes remove stuff from commercial location shots – wires that I can’t otherwise hide and the like, or something that grabs attention in the background that just couldn’t be moved. The odd blemish from skin in portraits – my aim is to make people look their best, but normal.’ ‘I once took a really good photo of a walkway over a ford. I spent ages removing a red lorry that was…

Get down low Don't be afraid to get down and dirty. Dropping by a metre or so brings the viewer into the world of the animal subject, and shooting in this way will give your image a much more natural feel. Backgrounds A background can make or break a wildlife image. Take your time ensuring that your subject is set against a clean and complementary background. Your subject will pop out of the frame providing beautiful context. Wildlife in action Wildlife gives a fantastic opportunity to capture some great action shots. A bird in flight, for example, can create an image of real drama. Even just a shot of a running horse or deer can really hold the viewer's attention. Black & white Even though a great number of animals…

Jason Lanier is an LA-based wedding and portrait photographer with an international following. He has over 400 videos on his YouTube channel. To find out more visit his website at jasonlanier.com. ‘ Any portrait photographer who says they only shoot in natural light is basically lazy.’ So says Jason Lanier, the straight-talking Californian people photographer and social-media sensation. We’re in a park just outside Windsor, with five models and around 30 pro, semi-pro and aspiring pro photographers. They have travelled from all over Europe to attend a workshop organised by British lighting innovator Rotolight, for whom he is an ambassador. He is also a Sony Alpha ambassador. Anyone who says you can’t make a living through social media clearly hasn’t met Jason, whose videos have given him a huge YouTube…

It’s hard to believe this picture was taken in the last few years, but Xiomara Bender’s book, North Korea: The Power of Dreams (Kehrer Verlag 2017) is illustrated across the course of three trips beginning in 2012. If someone told you it was taken in the 1950s, or even the 1920s, you would not be very surprised. Partly, of course, this is because of the strange time warp that is North Korea. For a biological parallel, albeit on a timescale a million times longer, consider the coelacanth. People call it a ‘living fossil’, but this is only a part truth. Today’s coelacanths are not the same as the fish of 65 million years ago; which was when, until 1938, they were thought to have become extinct. This ‘time-warp evolution’ is…