Innholdsfortegnelse for 04-Aug-2018 i Amateur Photographer

Pretty much everyone has a wideangle lens, even if it’s just their kit zoom. At a superficial level they’re ideal for getting more in the shot than you otherwise could – more view, more people in the group. But wideangles have distinctive visual characteristics that a skilled photographer can exploit to do a lot more than that. Whether it be emphasising leading lines, giving more prominence to the foreground, or distorting perspective, there’s a lot you can do with a wideangle and this week we offer a refresher on how to get the best out of them. Also this week we talk to American photojournalist Bruce Gilden about his controversial portraits, we test Fujifilm’s latest entry level X-series and examine the editing software that gives you the power of photoshop…

JULY has been a busy month for Fujifilm, with the company also updating the ‘roadmap' for its X-system lenses. This development plan reveals the basic specifications of three new lenses: a wideangle compact prime, a standard zoom lens with a constant f/4 aperture, and a super-fast f/1 prime. Firstly, the XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR will feature an equivalent focal length of 24mm and complement the firm's existing set of compact 23mm, 35mm and 50mm f/2 primes. Meanwhile, the XF 16-80mm f/4 R OIS WR standard zoom will have a 5x zoom range equivalent to 24-120mm, and a constant f/4 aperture further boosts its versatility. Finally, Fujifilm claims that the XF 33mm f/1 R WR will be world's first mirrorless glass with a maximum aperture of f/1.0 and AF capability.…

ANOTHER very '80s issue this week, featuring a cover model with impressive tonsorial architecture and who appears to be wearing exotic leaves from the Amazon rainforest. Inside the magazine are in-depth features on two photographic giants of the age: Lord Snowdon (now known to millions worldwide thanks to The Crown) and the rather more sedate Norman Parkinson (a banger, anyone?). This was royal wedding time and there is a poignant piece inside based on Snowdon's famous images of Charles and Diana. Few could have foretold the trials and tragedy that were to beset the happy-looking couple. Snowdon's quote is also telling, considering how soon this marriage was about to hit the rocks: ‘Once I tended to think that the photograph was more important than the person... but now I wouldn't…

As a child of the1970s, I look back fondly on a card game of the time called Top Trumps. For those not in the know, this used a pack of cards on a specific theme, maybe cars, trucks or aircraft. Each card featured a particular example with a set of specifications – with aircraft, for example, this might be maximum speed, wingspan etc. The object of the game was to win all the cards by calling out a number on your current card that was higher than those of your opponents. The fastest, largest or heaviest won. The skill was in working out what category to call. Some cards excelled in many areas, but others were decidedly middle-of-the-road and never won much. This is where the game diverged from reality;…

Prime wides Usually fixed at either 14mm, 20mm, 24mm, 28mm or 35mm, prime wides are typically sharper and faster than zooms, but with a trade-off in versatility. Fisheye Covering 180 ¡ or more, a fisheye is a special type of wideangle that offers a huge field of view and characteristic bulging distortion. Zooms Wideangle zooms offer greater flexibility than primes, especially when composing a frame to arrange both foreground and background neatly. Tripod A tripod is especially useful for wideangle photography as it gives you time to perfect your composition and allows for longer exposures.…

There's an inherent difficulty in fitting a wide field of view – one that naturally extends in a hemisphere around the camera – and cramming it onto a flat rectangle. The edges have to be compressed so that everything fits. This is why wideangles are particularly susceptible to barrel distortion, where naturally straight lines within the frame appear to be bowed or bulging. It's more obvious in landscapes with straight horizons, or architectural shots with lots of straight building lines. Quality wideangle lenses will have less distortion, but every lens suffers to some extent. Thankfully, correcting distortion is a simple step if you have software like Photoshop, Lightroom or DxO ViewPoint. The lens used to take the photo is automatically detected (most of the time, if not you can select…

Mount Stewart Location Mount Stewart is on the Newtownards to Portaferry road, A20, 15 miles southeast of Belfast. Your satnav might lead you to the back gate at Mount Stewart, which is not open to the public – stay on the Portaferry Road where you will see the entrance signposted. Cost Free to National Trust members. Refer to the website for full ticket prices: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/mount-stewart. Opening times The house is open 11am-5pm, trails are open 10am-5pm until 29 October; then both are open 10am-4pm. The formal garden is open 10am-5pm all year.…

Panorama mode You can access the panorama mode directly from the X-T100’s mode dial. The camera will take a series of shots as you pan before merging them into one panoramic image. You can choose between ‘L’ for a 180° shot and ‘M’ for a 120° shot. 4K burst shooting This mode is found below the continuous shooting modes from the drive options. It allows you to extract 8MP images from 4K 15fps movie footage, but focus is fixed from the first frame. The ‘Q’ button is used to save your favourite images from a 4K burst during playback. Function dial This easy-to-access function dial can be assigned to 18 different functions from the set-up menu in shooting mode. In the ‘Default’ setting, the dial is automatically assigned to the…

THE X-T100 slots into Fujifilm's desirable X-T series below the X-T20 where there's been a gap for a more affordable entry-level model for some time. As a camera designed for first-time mirrorless buyers and those advancing from smartphones, it's appealing, from both from an aesthetic and performance perspective. It feels solid in the hand, more so than Fujifilm's X-A5, provides a centrally positioned EVF to assist composition, and serves up the advanced features one needs to hone shooting skills after exploiting the auto modes. Is it worth spending £120 more for the X-T100 over the X-A5? Having used both cameras, I'd say it's a small price to pay for the added benefit of an electronic viewfinder and its lovely SLR styling. Those who do buy it will fall in love…

Viewfinder The small optical viewfinder gives a very approximate indication of the picture you’re going to get. Power Two CR2 batteries are supplied in the box. According to Fujifilm they should last for 30 ten-shot packs. Tripod socket A standard 1/4in socket lets you attach the camera to a tripod for shooting long exposures or with its 10-second self-timer. Selfie mirror Used with the camera’s dedicated selfie mode, a small mirror beside the lens caters for those who can’t bear to leave themselves out of their pictures. Flash filters Three coloured plastic filters – orange, purple and green – can be snapped over the flash to add a tint to the prints, if you like that kind of thing. FUJIFILM has been making instant cameras for almost 20 years, but…

As an enthusiastic teenage photographer, encouraged by my school photographic society, the first ‘proper' camera I owned was a second-hand Praktica Nova SLR, but the first camera I bought new was a Russian Lubitel 2 twin lens reflex. In the 1970s, Russian cameras, and indeed other optical equipment, were a low-cost option for the hobbyist, allowing one to test the waters before, if the bug bit, investing in more expensive gear. To be fair, the Soviets weren't trying to hide anything. The word Любитель (Lubitel) is Russian for amateur. I have a bit of a soft spot for Russian cameras and although they have a reputation for being clunky and unreliable, I can't say I've noticed the failure rate to be any higher with my Soviet gear than it is…

AF Nikon AF lenses driven from camera AF-S Nikon lenses with Silent Wave Motor AF-P Nikon lenses with stepper motors AL Pentax lenses with aspheric elements APD Fujifilm lenses with apodisation elements APO Sigma Apochromatic lenses ASPH Aspherical elements AT-X Tokina’s Advanced Technology Extra Pro AW Pentax all-weather lenses CS Samyang lenses for APS-C cropped sensors D Nikon lenses that communicate distance info DA Pentax lenses optimised for APS-C-sized sensors DC Nikon defocus-control portrait lenses DC Sigma’s lenses for APS-C digital DG Sigma’s designation for full-frame lenses Di Tamron lenses for full-frame sensors Di-II Tamron lenses designed for APS-C DSLRs Di-III Tamron lenses for mirrorless cameras DN Sigma’s lenses for mirrorless cameras DO Canon diffractive optical element lenses DT Sony lenses for APS-C-sized sensors DX Nikon’s lenses for DX-format digital…

Take the high road Don’t let low light get you down – hone your high-ISO skills with Steve Davey’s tips England’s first (and last) 35mm SLR John Wade tells the story of the Wrayflex Samyang AF 85mm f/1.4 EF Michael Topham tests this affordable fast telephoto prime for Canon users The surreal truth The images of Lee Miller – an important figure in the British Surrealist movement CONTENT FOR NEXT WEEK’S ISSUE MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE…

When we tilt a wideangle lens up to shoot a tall building – the vertical lines tend to collapse in on one another. Known as converging verticals or keystoning, the optical effect is especially apparent with wideangles, simply because the perspective is so exaggerated. One option is to correct for the converging verticals. At the time of shooting find a straighter angle to shoot from, by moving further backwards or higher so the upward camera angle is less acute. Corrections can also be made in post-production. The excellent Upright command found in Lightroom's Develop Module (and also in Photoshop's Camera Raw plugin) can detect and correct verticals as well as fix wonky horizons. The second option is to embrace the visual effect and use it to enhance your composition. In…

What do you think when you look at Bruce Gilden’s pictures? Are you drawn in by a close-up look at the human subject, or do they make you feel a little bit uncomfortable? Either way, it’s highly likely that you’ll linger on them. Magnum photographer Bruce Gilden made his name for his controversial photographic methods in his home city of New York – his images stand out from others who usually play the role of passive observer. Now 71, he’s shooting in the street less (unless someone pays him to do so) and concentrating on posed portraits. I met Bruce at this year’s Photo London, where his ‘Farm Boys and Farm Girls USA’ project was on display at the Leica Collector’s Lounge. Huge 40x60in prints (available to buy for £9,000…

Justin Minns Justin is a landscape photographer and workshop leader who has been working with the National Trust for several years. His images have been widely recognised in photography competitions including Landscape Photographer of the Year.Visit www.justinminns.co.uk. Patterns and repetition Patterns and repeating objects make fascinating subject matter, and formal gardens such as those at Mount Stewart are full of them – both man-made and natural. One way to photograph a repeating pattern is to zoom in and fill the frame, giving the impression of an endless pattern. Keep elements that disturb the rhythm out of the image (or clone them out later). Including something that breaks up the pattern is another approach. Imagine a swathe of flowers that consists only of pink tulips, except for a single yellow one.…

• By car Mount Stewart is on the Newtownards to Portaferry road, A20, 15 miles southeast of Belfast. If you are using satnav/GPS, please be aware that it may lead you to the back gate at Mount Stewart which is not accessible to the public. Mount Stewart is on the Portaferry Road to Newtownards heading towards Greyabbey. Stay on the Portaferry Road, where you will see Mount Stewart clearly signposted. • By bus Belfast to Portaferry, alight at gates. See Translink NI website for bus departure and arrival times: www.translink.co.uk.…

THE GREAT Dorset Steam Fair is ‘nestled' just 4.5 miles north east of Blandford Forum, close to the village of Tarrant Hinton. There is an entrance fee into the Fair (and free on-site parking), which runs from Thursday, 23 August through to the bank holiday – Monday, 27 August. It is reputedly the largest show of its kind in the world. Glorious on a summer's day with blue sky and fluffy clouds punctuated by the smoke and steam of leviathans of a bygone era, the Steam Fair is a sight to behold. Not only are there rows and rows of steam-powered traction engines, agricultural machinery, vintage cars and lorries, but also many stallholders selling a huge variety of things from vintage car spares to secondhand garden machinery and objects d'art…

Flip out When shooting architecture as striking as the Evolution Tower in Moscow (left), why not surprise those familiar with it by flipping the image upside down. Thereby asking the viewer to work a little harder. Use lead-in lines Directing the viewer's eye into and around the picture is often easier if you use a lead-in line. These can be natural, as in the lines in the crops here or man-made like a bannister or stairwell. Frame old and new When old and new sit side-by-side the juxtaposition can be striking. Here the Sage Concert Hall in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, looms over older housing. Use a telephoto lens to compress perspective. Create context Give buildings some context by making a feature out of the surrounding area. By using a…

Lenses A medium zoom, such as a 100-400mm, is ideal for allowing you to frame the image or go close in for detail. For aquarium work a macro lens such as a 100mm or 180mm is more ideal. Tripod or monopod The number of other visitors will help you decide which is best. If possible choose a tripod, but be aware that if it’s crowded, such as at feeding times, a monopod is more people friendly. Flash extender If the wildlife park or zoo is happy with you using a flash, then think about adding one of these to your kit list. They are relatively cheap and mean you can extend the distance your flash effectively works at. Fold-out stool It is unlikely that you will be kneeling down but…

TO ACTIVATE the X-T100's Bluetooth connectivity you first need to enter the connection settings via the main menu, select ‘Bluetooth settings' and then click on ‘pairing registration'. From here you're prompted to load Fujifilm's camera remote app on your mobile device and select the pairing registration option. After selecting X-T100 on your mobile device the camera will ask if you'd like to set the date/time from the smartphone. Confirm this and the Bluetooth set-up process is complete. Each time the Camera Remote app is loaded from this point on, the camera and mobile device automatically connect (provided that Bluetooth on both devices is turned on) – a process that takes about five seconds after which the remote control, receive, browse camera and geotagging options in the app all become active.…

How can I speed up my editing? Q I am a professional wedding photographer who processes thousands of images in Adobe Lightroom every month. I would love to find some kind of computer peripheral to speed up my workflow and make editing a little easier. I only have a budget of £200 and am wondering if there's anything out there that would suit my requirements? Elizabeth Baker A Recently, an increasing array of editing peripherals has hit the market, offering photographers new intuitive ways to edit their images. One of our favourites is the Loupedeck+, a photo-editing console with dedicated buttons, dials and scroll wheels for tweaking settings such as exposure, contrast and clarity, and various other functions including star ratings, colour labels and undoing/redoing actions. Its intuitive and ergonomic…

Cameras Interchangeable-lens cameras come in two types: DSLRs with optical viewfinders, and mirrorless models with electronic viewing Handgrip DSLRs traditionally have relatively large handgrips, while many mirrorless models have much smaller grips to keep size down. However, some can accept accessory grips to improve handling with larger lenses. Lens mount Each camera brand uses its own lens mount, and mirrorless cameras use different lenses to DSLRs even from the same brand. However, mirrorless models can often use DSLR lenses via a mount adapter. Controls Entry-level cameras tend to have simple, easy-to-understand controls, while more expensive models add lots of buttons and dials to give quick access to settings. Viewfinder The biggest difference between DSLRs and mirrorless cameras is that the latter use electronic, rather than optical viewfinders. They’re more power…

False memory syndrome is often associated with unpleasant or traumatic events, but it’s something that happens to all of us to a greater or lesser extent; often with trivial things we do not particularly want either to remember or to forget. Think back to when you were a child. How many things do you really remember clearly, and how many are traceable to, or supplemented by, your parents repeatedly retelling the story? If you tell the same story now, how much of it comes from your own memory and how much from the story you’ve heard retold so often? This line of inquiry can rapidly lead us into archetypes and thence to clichés, but as the late Sir Terry Pratchett said (in his novel Guards! Guards! ), clichés are the…

If you’d like to see your work published in Amateur Photographer, here’s how to send us your images: Email Email a selection of low-res images (up to 5MB of attachments in total) to appicturedesk@ti-media.com.CD/DVD Send us a disc of high-resolution JPEG, TIFF or PSD images (at least 2480 pixels along its longest length), with a contact sheet, to the address on page 26. Via our online communities Post your pictures into our Flickr group, Facebook page, Twitter feed, or the gallery on our website. See details above. Transparencies/prints Well-packaged prints or slides (without glass mounts) should be sent by Special Delivery, with a return SAE, to the address on page 26.…

A selection of filters can be very useful when shooting with a wideangle. If you're including both land and sky – as is often the case when shooting wide – then a graduated filter can help to balance the two. A polariser can also be useful for enhancing skies and cutting through reflections in foliage, but be careful when shooting blue skies, as the wide field of view might result in uneven dark patches, where the polariser affects one part of the sky more than another. Lens flare can also be an issue when pairing filters with a wideangle as the lens hood must usually be removed – so if shooting in bright sunlight be sure to shade the front element of the lens.…

Panasonic LUMIX DC-G9 With fast autofocus and an impressive frame rate, this camera is ideal for capturing insects, particularly by using the flip-out screen when you want to get down low. Leica DG Vario-Elmar 100-400mm f/4-6.3 lens Ideal for photographing those shy garden creatures, this 200-800mm (35mm equivalent) lens was specifically designed for nature photographers. Leica DG Macro 45mm f/2.8 This 90mm (35mm equivalent) macro lens is perfect for shooting garden insects or flower close-ups, and the optical image stabilisation will help you get sharp shots handheld. Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FZ1000EB With a large 1in sensor and a 25-400mm (35mm equivalent) zoom lens, this camera has all the flexibility you need for garden photography.…

Holga horror show In your interesting article on cheap creative lenses (AP 21 July), I completely agree with your assessment of the Holga 60mm f/8. It is a horrible lens. I hadn't thought of prising off the vignette plate, so I fished out the lens, made the amendment and took a few shots in the garden with a full-frame camera. A great improvement! I also have the Holga push-fit wide lens 0.5X attachment which fits over the 60mm and I use this combination with a Canon 5D Mark II that I've converted to infrared. I hadn't thought of using the Holga lenses in such a way. Much to my delight there seems to be no blocking of IR, and the images look great! Thanks for leading me down this creative…

One of the most impressive sights and a must for photographers who enjoy a reportage approach is the First World War trench system and artillery field battery. Staffed by fully uniformed re-enactors who are more than happy to have their pictures taken and tell you about the trench system. Not only are there the trenches, military vehicles, a workshop and first-aid post, but also horses and stabling. If it was up to me I would head here first. Small groups are led around the trench system, but it has proved popular over the last three years and there can be queues. Food and lodging There are plenty of food outlets with everything from Indian, Mexican and Oriental to crêpes, a hog roast and Cornish pasties. There are also marquees selling…

Featuring a 39-megapixel-equivalent Foveon sensor, the SIGMA sd Quattro balances outstanding image quality with fundamental performance. This interchangeable lens camera is designed for the artist who loves photography and, as such, aims to get the most out of SIGMAs high-quality lenses. The prize includes a SIGMA 30mm f/1.4 DC HSM Art lens. This large aperture lens has an angle-of-view equivalent to 45mm on a 35mm camera, making it a great go-to lens for multiple purposes. The total prize value is £1,050.…

Perches If you are doing a bird-of-prey shoot bring along a couple of your own photogenic perches and ask if it is OK to use them. The centre may ask for a small fee but you will be producing original images. Jesses (leather straps) If you go on a bird-of-prey shoot make sure the falconer hides the jess behind the perch, and choose an angle that avoids them. If the bird is flying this may be impossible so you will have to clone the jesses out later in Photoshop. The sun While sunlight can add sparkle to an image, in many cases it can produce harsh shadows. High cloud will make for smooth, even light for full-face portraits of your subjects. If the sun is out, watch those highlights. Angles…

Sensor 24.2-million APS-C CMOS sensor Output size 6000x4000 pixels Focal length mag 1.5x Lens mount Fujifilm X-mount Shutter speeds 30sec-1/4000sec mechanical 30secs-1/32000 sec electronic Sensitivity ISO 200-12,800 (standard) ISO 100-51,200 (extended) Exposure modes PASM, SR+, Auto Metering Multi, Spot, Average Exposure comp –5 to +5 EV, in increments of 1/3EV Continuous shooting 6fps Screen 3in,1,040k-dot3-waytilttouchscreen Viewfinder 0.39in, 2,360k-dot, 0.62x magnification with 100% coverage Video 4K (15p); Full HD (60/50/24/23p) External mic 2.5mm stereo mini connector Memory card SD, SDHC, SDXC Power NP-W126S battery Battery life 430 shots Dimensions 121.0x83.0x47.4mm Weight 448g with battery and card…

Our cameras and lenses are tested using the industry-standard Image Engineering IQ-Analyser software. Visit www.image-engineering.de for more details The combination of Bayer APS-C CMOS sensor and newly developed image-processing engine is the same pairing as used within the Fujifilm X-A5. It's no great surprise that the image quality results are identical to those previously recorded by its entry-level cousin. By opting to use the Bayer colour pixel array rather than the more complex X-Trans pixel array, Fujifilm has been able to make the X-T100 more affordable than the X-T20. This ultimately comes down to the Bayer sensor being a less expensive component. Like the X-A5, it does not feature a low pass filter. Resolution Like 24MP Bayer sensors we’ve tested in other Fujifilm cameras in the past, the X-T100 is…

GIVEN its power, scope, range of tools and the effects it can achieve, Affinity Photo is a deeply impressive program, even if you ignore its price. But when you factor in its low purchase cost, it starts to look even more remarkable. It's not without flaws, but some of these are part and parcel of the niche it fills, and apply just as much to Photoshop. It doesn't offer you a way of cataloguing your image library and it doesn't offer quick and simple effects – or the fast and efficient nondestructive editing of Lightroom, say. It's not a tool for beginners looking for an easy way into photo editing – there are lots of other programs for that. Instead, Affinity Photo is a full-on professional photo-editing tool that makes…

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G AF-S You'll find a ‘nifty fifty' in almost every music photographer's kit bag. This little prime's focal length is ideally suited for use in small to mid-size music venues, while its fast aperture means you'll still be able to achieve a good exposure in the darkest of venues. Shoot wide open and you'll have to nail your focus owing to that shallow depth of field, but you'll be able to keep your camera's shutter speed fast enough for sharp shots and your ISO at a useable level. £219 • Wide f/1.8 aperture• One of the most affordable Nikon lenses available• Compatible with Nikon FX and DX format DSLRs Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G AF-S ED Larger dedicated music spaces tend to have far better stage…

We've tried our hardest to ensure that the information in this guide is as complete and accurate as possible. However, some errors will inevitably have crept in along the way: if you spot one, please let us know by emailing ap@ti-media.com. We don't have space to list every single product on the market, so we don't include the most expensive speciality optics such as long telephoto primes. Before making a major purchase we advise you to double-check prices, along with any crucial specifications or requirements, with either a reputable retailer or the manufacturer's website.…