Innholdsfortegnelse for 03-Nov-2018 i Amateur Photographer

It’s pleasing when someone tells you a better way to do something, but a bit infuriating to think of all the time you wasted doing it ‘wrong’. So this week prepare to be both pleased and infuriated with our expert tips for working smarter. There’s a strong photojournalism focus this week too, as we talk to President Obama’s photographer on the 10th anniversary of Obama’s election, and Adam Ferguson tells us the story behind his powerful World Press Photo-winning portrait series. As it’s Halloween this week we look at a new film, co-produced by Gray Levett of Grays of Westminster, about Simon Marsden and his spooky, pioneering infrared photography. Finally, there’s our review of the Fujifilm X-T3 – a camera that impressed the team so much our Features Editor has…

THE WINNERS of this year's Landscape Photographer of the Year have also been announced. The overall winner is Pete Rowbottom, who shot a competition regular, Glencoe (pictured). ‘The numerous strong diagonal lines of the ice fractures in Pete's image echo the shape of Buachaille Etive Mor in the background and have peaks of their own,' said competition founder Charlie Waite. ‘This is an image where you can hear and feel the landscape as well as see it, so it is emotionally strong and involves the viewer on multiple levels.' A new book, Landscape Photographer of the Year Collection 12, is now on sale; it features all the winning images from 2018. For full details of this year's contest, see www.take-a-view.co.uk.…

A FEW weeks back we saw a kitten on the cover of an old issue, and if that wasn't enough cute overload, this issue's then-editors rustled up a baby. There was also an advert for an incongruously named projector lamp, called Wotan, which would be a great name for a Swedish death metal band. There were plenty more curiosities inside the magazine, including an amusing piece on ‘continuity cameras'. The writer marvels how a photographer at the International Cover Girl Contest (oh dear) managed to take 60 shots on a 35mm camera without changing the film. There was also a lament about the poor design of developing dishes, alongside a wonderful portrait of George Bernard Shaw (an occasional AP contributor back in the old days). Another highlight was a photo…

Benjamin Franklin is often quoted as saying ‘by failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail’, and his advice certainly holds true when it comes to photography. Cameras are incredibly sophisticated tools, but when you have just seconds to get your picture, it’s easy to become flustered, switch everything to auto and just hope for the best. Creating a successful image begins before the shutter is even released. First you need to choose the right tools for the job, then you need to have some idea about what it is you are trying to communicate, and then you need to ensure your camera is set in a way that will deliver the best results and share what you had in your mind’s eye. Many things can be left up to…

I really enjoy your magazine and was particularly impressed by the 20 October issue which featured a number of female contributors without making it a ‘special' women's issue. We are still so under-represented in many areas of life and to have a photography magazine that truly reflects the number of women who use this medium is inspirational and shows how far we have come. Keep up the good work, all of you at AP. I always look forward to your magazine. Jean Seddon The great thing about photography is that it's the pictures that do the talking. When choosing content for publication we look for pictures and stories that ‘wow' us or move us. The gender of the photographer, or the brand (or cost) of the camera used, are not…

Don’t crop in too tightly. Leave space for the magazine ‘furniture' – masthead, cover lines and graphic devices. Busy images with lots of detail are generally unsuitable as they make superimposed text tricky to read. Shoot portrait-format pictures. While it's not unheard of for us to use a section of a landscape-format shot, your chances are improved by shooting in the upright format. Make eye contact. If you're submitting a portrait, ensure good eye contact, with the subject looking directly into the lens. Make sure the eyes are pin-sharp. Provide plenty of options. Try various angles and subject placements, with the main focal point to the left, the right and centre, to give the art editor lots of options of where to put the cover lines.…

eLive The different modes in Elements can be accessed via buttons at the top. Elive is a web portal to Adobe curated content, including tutorials and inspiration. Guided Mode This offers a range of walkthroughs that guide you through the process of making common edits or visual effects. Quick Mode Here the number of tools and settings are restricted. There's an emphasis on one-click effects and simple techniques. Expert Mode This gives you access to all of the tools, panels and controls available in Elements. It's the hardest to master, but offers the greatest potential.…

Sensor 26.1MP APS-C X-Trans CMOS 4 Output size 6240x4160 Focal length mag 1.5x Lensmount Fujifilm X-mount Shutter speeds 15min-1/8,000sec (mechanical) 15min-1/32,000sec (electronic) ISO 160-12,800 (80-51,200 extended) Exposure modes PASM Metering Multi, spot, average, centre-weighted Exposure comp +/-5EV in 1/3 steps Drive mode 11fps with mechanical shutter 30fps with electronic shutter Video 4K (4096x2160) 60fps, full HD Viewfinder 3.69m-dot, 0.75x magnification Screen 3in, 1.04m-dot tilting LCD Memory Card SD, SDHC, SDXC (dual slot) Power NP-W126S Li-ion battery Battery life 390 shots per charge Dimensions 132.5x92.8x58.8mm Weight 539g 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 IN THE past we witnessed a jump in resolution from the X-T1's 16.3-million-pixel X-Trans sensor to the 24.3-million pixel X-Trans III chip found inside the X-T2. The X-T3's new 26.1-million-pixel X-Trans CMOS 4 sensor doesn't offer such a leap in terms of resolution, but its back-illuminated structure is what's important, allowing it to produce cleaner looking images across its ISO range. The way the sensor handles noise across its native range (ISO 100-12,800) while preserving such a fine level of detail is great news for those who frequently work in low light. Resolution The lack of optical low-pass filter plays its part in a maximum of 3,400/lph being resolved between ISO 80…

With the Laowa 15mm f/2 FE Zero-D, Venus Optics has come up with another fine ultra-wideangle prime which, used properly, is capable of absolutely superb results. Landscape photographers looking for an extreme wide angle capable of giving critical corner-to-corner sharpness at normal working apertures will love this optic. Likewise, those shooting interiors in low-light will appreciate its expansive view and impressive light-gathering capabilities. Indeed my only real complaint is that £900 feels like a lot of money to pay for a lens that has no electronics. It would count as a significant operational improvement if the lens could communicate its aperture and focal length to the camera, even while keeping the same mechanical operation. However if you're confident you can live with its fully manual design, this unique optic will…

Neatly packed An attractive presentation box keeps the Lensball safe during transit. Two sizes Alongside the 80mm ‘Pro’ model, Lensball also sells a 60mm ‘Pocket’ version that weighs 250g. Microfibre pouch The Lensball comes with a soft pouch with a drawstring closure, to keep it clean and free of fingerprints. • £29.99 • www.lensball.com This has got to be some kind of a joke, right? On a page where we cover the latest, most useful photographic accessories, this week it's a crystal ball? If this is what you're thinking, then I understand your scepticism. I had much the same reaction on being offered a Lensball for review, especially given its hyperbolic tagline ‘The Ultimate Photographic Accessory'. But actually, after using one for a while, I've decided that there's more to…

With the release of two new full-frame mirrorless systems and Panasonic joining in with Leica's L-mount, the aficionados of the existing, smaller format systems may wonder whether their systems are in danger of becoming obsolescent. The answer to this question is, in all probability, ‘no. While the specialist photographic market is decreasing in size, it is unlikely to disappear. It will remain in a different form, possibly consisting of specialist niches. We have seen new niche photographic markets open up over the last few years, such as, for instance, action cameras. The more pertinent question for any user of a camera system worried about its future is whether there is a viable niche that it will fill. The question about the mirrorless camera market is whether it consists of one…

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…

There are at least three kinds of inspiration. First, you may see a style or genre or subject you have never really considered before, and think, ‘I want to do that!’ Second, you may see something you have already attempted and think ‘OK, I see why my pictures aren’t as good.’ Third comes negative inspiration, also known as realism: ‘Although I like this picture, I am unlikely ever to emulate it.’ This may include genres you have given up, or subjects you’d prefer to admire in either real life or pictures, rather than shoot. For me, this picture partakes of all three. Perhaps to the surprise of some readers, I was once young and have done a few more or less competent pictures of fairly similar subjects: principally, Bristol-based band…

THERE'S not long to go until the inaugural Photo North Festival kicks off in Harrogate. The line-up looks fantastic, with some of the world's best photography on show in the picturesque spa town. Highlights include Dean Belcher's Pop-Up Studio, where you can have your photograph taken by the eponymous portrait photographer with your first-ever vinyl purchase (or something else that defines you). Each session lasts 45 minutes and must be booked in advance. There will be a major exhibition of the work of Tish Murtha. One of the UK's best social documentary photographers, Murtha studied under David Hurn at Newport College of Art. After her untimely death in 2013 a book on her ‘Youth Unemployment' series was posthumously published by her daughter Ella. Meanwhile, John Bolloten will be talking about…

THE HOLIDAY season is almost upon us, which means it's time for Stir-up Sunday, sentimental TV adverts, and the Amateur Photographer Christmas cover competition. This year we have teamed up with Photocrowd and Billingham to offer you global exposure, and some great prizes to boot. The prizes The overall winner (as judged by the AP team) will see their picture grace the cover of the AP Christmas Special issue (22-29 December). They will also receive a Billingham Hadley One bag worth £265, courtesy of Billingham (www.billingham.co.uk). The winner can choose from six classic colour combinations. A second winner (as awarded by the public vote via Photocrowd, www.photocrowd.com) will receive a year's subscription to AP. If the standard of entries is deemed high enough, the winner(s), and a selection of commended…

Spot Healing Brush Simply paint over problem areas with this brush and Photoshop will replace the area with content based on the surrounding pixels. It's very effective at removing small marks and spots or annoying patches such as a distracting bright spot that was on the branch. Content-Aware Fill This will automatically fill areas for you by analysing the rest of the image. Draw a rough selection with the Lasso tool then go to Edit>Fill Selection, set ‘Use: Content-Aware' and hit OK. You'll find content-aware technology at work in other tools like the Spot Healing Brush. Healing Brush This is a cross between the Spot Healing brush and Clone tools. As with the Clone tool, we Alt-click to sample a clean area nearby then paint to remove the problem patch.…

WITH THE X-T2, Fujifilm took what we loved about the X-T1's styling before tweaking the design and refreshing it with a new sensor and processor. A similar approach has been taken with the X-T3. It adopts the niceties of the X-T2 and has been updated with the latest X-Trans 4 sensor and X-Processor 4, transforming its performance significantly. The wide spread of phase-detect AF pixels across the full height and width of the sensor, united with its high-speed burst capabilities, provides a higher success rate of sharp shots when shooting the fastest moving subjects; meanwhile the improved responsiveness of the autofocus in dark scenes, combined with the way the sensor handles noise at high ISOs, makes it a strong contender when challenged by low light. Adding in-body stabilisation (IBIS) would…

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 24. 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 24.…

TINYMOS HAS announced details of the NANO1, which it claims is the world's smallest astrophotography camera. The pocket camera, which sounds like an ideal companion for hiking or camping, features a Sony backside-illuminated sensor which enables it to capture 12MP still photos (up from 4MP on its predecessor, the TINY1) and 4K video. The NANO1 has a dual mount system, supporting small M12 mount lenses and larger C mount format optics, and weighs just 100g. There is also an integrated Z-tripod mount and Android and iOS app support. Release date is next April, and price isn't confirmed yet. See www.tinymos.com. For the latest news visit www.amateurphotographer.co.uk…

The organisers of September's Photokina, photography's most significant trade fair, identified 10 trends which are shaping photography. Some are obvious, such as the rise of mirrorless cameras, algorithms, 4K video and ever-higher shutter and frame speeds, but two caught my attention. First, they cited the rise of instant imaging and popularity of Fujifilm's Instax film and (a re-born) Polaroid. That the only copy of a photo can develop in your hand is ‘so cool' in their words. Second, they cited the enjoyment of the printed image: ‘An ever-increasing number of photographers are asking “What do I do with my especially good images?”' The urge to print them will be music to the ears of Kodak and Fujifilm for whom, prior to the advent of digital, photo paper was big business.…

A ‘post it’ note Regarding your letter about the low number of APOY entries ( Inbox , AP 20 October). For a start, with APOY isn't it the case that one has to enter via a website, and can't send to a postal address via snail mail? Photographers may be deterred by the complexity of entering via the internet or simply cannot afford a laptop and broadband. What's wrong with the simple envelope, address and stamp with ‘please find enclosed', using the postage system? There is a big dependence on emailing work, and one sometimes does not know where it is going. Phil Morris Suggesting that the fall in APOY numbers is due to the lack of ability to enter by post is like suggesting the fall in shopping centre…

The competition is open to everyone, whether amateur or professional, and you are free to interpret the theme in any way you choose. Naturally we are happy to see shots of baubles, trees and lights, but we also want pictures that show the creative potential of the season in general, so feel free to submit winter landscapes, indoor portraits, frosty flora and fauna, etc. If you think you have something suitable on file, great; if not have a go at shooting something for the competition. To enter, upload your image(s) to the Photocrowd website via the following link: www.photocrowd.com/apxmas.…

When confronted with any program there are usually some things that we need to learn right away in order to get up and running, while other things can be left to explore at a later time. Photoshop Elements might be the ‘lite’ version of Adobe’s image editor, but it still packs a huge array of tools and commands. Whether you’re a beginner, or in need of a refresher, it helps to know about the Elements tools that matter most. Over the next few pages we’ll explore some of the key features that you need in order to get by in Elements. In particular, we’ll take an in-depth look at how a simple composite can be made by using a combination of selection, layer masking and tonal tools. Along the way…

THE X-T2 was capable of rattling out a sequence at 8fps, with the option to increase the top end speed to 14fps by attaching a vertical power booster. The pairing of the X-T3's new sensor and image processor presents generous speed benefits over its predecessor, with the option to shoot at up to 11fps using the mechanical shutter in continuous high (CH) burst mode. The X-T3 doesn't require a vertical power booster grip to shoot faster than 8fps either, giving users the benefit of being able to shoot faster without adding additional weight to the body. Engage the X-T3's electronic shutter and enter the drive settings, and you'll find more burst options. You can shoot at 20fps using the electronic shutter, or up to 30fps using the electronic shutter with…

Resolution In terms of resolution, the 15mm behaves similarly to Laowa’s other wideangles. It’s extremely sharp in the centre of the frame, giving peak resolution when closed down a stop from the maximum. In the corners it lags behind considerably at full aperture, but sharpens up dramatically on stopping down, with the best overall results obtained from f/5.6-f/11. Smaller apertures inevitably see some softening due to diffraction. Shading Unsurprisingly, moderately strong vignetting is visible at maximum aperture, measuring around 1.7 stops. However the gradual fall-off profile means that it’s not visually intrusive. Stopping down the aperture sees the level of corner darkening fall gradually, until it reaches 1 stop at f/5.6. It then stays the same at smaller apertures down to f/22. Curvilinear distortion Distortion is kept remarkably low for…

Portable hard drive for Macbook Pro Q I have started to travel a lot with my work and I end up taking a huge amount of images and videos that I need to backup while I'm away. I have always used a hard drive dock at home with multiple SATA drives, but I now need something more portable for my travels. I don't really want to spend more than £150 but I could if I had to, and I currently use a Macbook Pro. It does have the USB A ports as well as Thunderbolt, but I may update to a newer version in the future. Clive Jones A When it comes to backing up your photos there are a number of hard drives available. If you could stretch your…

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…