Innholdsfortegnelse for 03-Aug-2019 i Amateur Photographer

There’s an oft-repeated cliché that the hours around sunrise and sunset are the best for photography, and from midmorning to mid-afternoon you may as well put your camera away. This may be true (a bit) for landscapes, but even then there are exceptions. The obvious truth is that you can take great pictures at any time if you play to the strengths of the prevailing light, as this week’s guide to all-day shooting reminds us (page 16). We also look at the rise of Chernobyl as a destination for adventurous photographers – which is surely set to grow after the brilliant TV drama about the 1986 nuclear disaster. From death and destruction we turn to new life, with tips on capturing the beauty of newborn babies, and a first look…

USED camera and lens specialist retailer MPB has secured an extra £9m in venture capital funding to support its international expansion. ‘There are over 20 million photographers and filmmakers who are our potential users, in Europe and the US alone,' said Matt Barker, founder and CEO of the Brighton-based company. ‘These photographers look for the perfect bit of kit, but face a highly fragmented market which lacks transparency and trust in sellers. With the new capital, we will open the first MPB operational centre in Brooklyn, US, and are planning a German site to follow in 2020. We intend on becoming the leading global platform for photographers and filmmakers to trade professional equipment.' MPB says it already has a community of 135,000 active users. For the latest news visit www.amateurphotographer.co.uk…

How many of us really appreciate the different qualities of light during the course of a single day? The reason you might not have noticed how light changes hour by hour is because the human eye is wonderfully adaptable, continually compensating for varying conditions. But learn how to see the light, and respond to its subtle changes, and your pictures will improve dramatically. Colour of light Natural light is made up of all the colours of the visible spectrum: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. Each has a different wavelength – short at the blue end of the spectrum, long at the red end. Mix all the colours and we get what we think of as white light. The Earth’s atmosphere contains air molecules that scatter light as…

How did you get into photography? After the summer of 2017, a friend encouraged me to start photography, so I’ve only been doing it a short space of time. I instantly fell in love with photography and editing. It came naturally to me and was a continuation of my work as a graphic designer. I’d never used Lightroom before then, so I started at the beginning by learning about the basics of retouching landscapes and portraits. I did this by watching lots of videos. I then bought my first camera: a second-hand Sony Alpha 7 with the basic kit lens. I signed up to Instagram at the same time, at first just for personal use to share my results. How would you say Instagram has helped your career? After spending…

Camera and lenses Kristina uses a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV with the Canon 50mm f/1.2L for most of her newborn photography, but switches to the Canon 50mm f/2.5 compact macro lens for the close-up shots. Beanbag and props Kristina uses a beanbag for her newborn shoots because you can mould the bag to whatever shape you want. She also has a selection of small towels, blankets and sheets of muslin to stuff underneath the baby to mould it or lift its head. A collection of bunnies adds a final touch. Lighting Kristina prefers to shoot in natural light using her big windows, and her clients often request it, but for dark days she has a Bowens Octobox 150, which is a 1.5-metre diameter softbox that does a good job…

Our cameras and lenses are tested using the industry-standard Image Engineering IQ-Analyser software. Visit www.image-engineering.de for more details The Ricoh GR III was due a new sensor and the 24.2-million-pixel APS-C size CMOS chip it's now equipped with brings it up to date. Being 14 times larger than the sensor inside conventional smartphones, it has a significant advantage when you're challenged by low-light conditions. Users can confidently push up to ISO 3200 when dark environments dictate a higher sensitivity setting and the increase in resolution means the crop modes are very usable too, especially the 35mm option, which delivers a 15MP image that's adequate for A3 or A4 prints. Resolution With no anti-aliasing filter, the Ricoh GR III manages to deliver excellent resolution figures from its raw files. At its…

LANDSCAPEPRO 3 Studio Max was the version reviewed here, and in terms of ease of use it can't be faulted. The workflow is easy to follow, and the pop-up instructions that guide you through the process of labelling and masking different areas of images make processing images simple. But with software that's as intuitive as LandscapePro 3, it's safe to say that after just one or two images you'll be able to switch these pop-up instructions off. The software is advertised as being suitable for photographers ranging from absolute beginners to experts, but it's more likely that the three versions will appeal to beginners and enthusiasts since more-advanced photographers may need in-depth functionality such as HDR, focus stacking and layers. However, one option is to use LandscapePro 3 alongside something…

Manfrotto Element Big Traveller Tripod Thanks to its carbon-fibre construction, this tripod is the lightest in this round-up at a mere 1.4kg, and when not in use can be folded to an extremely portable 41.5cm in length. Conveniently, one of its legs can also be detached and used as a full-size monopod providing great versatility, while with its included ball head, loads of up to 8kg can be supported safely at heights of up to 164cm. £149 ● Weighs just 1.4kg ● Compact 41.5cm collapsed length ● Detachable monopod leg Vanguard VEO 235AB Travel Tripod With an innovative swinging central column for rapid set-up and takedown, this compact travel tripod provides a max working height of 145cm and can take loads of up to 6kg, more than enough to support…

FUJIFILM is to open a ‘concept experience centre' (aka a big store and product showcase) this winter in London's Covent Garden. Spread over three floors, the centre is designed to promote Fujifilm's photography and imaging brands. The centre's ‘zones' will focus on Instax instant cameras and printers, an increasingly important area for the company, plus specialist areas for the GFX medium-format range and the more mainstream X-series of mirrorless cameras. There will also be a ‘Wonder Photo Shop', where visitors can get ideas for photo printing and photo gifting. ‘From rewriting the rulebook on larger-format cameras with the GFX100, to launching the smallest and most innovative Instax instant camera to date, an incredibly exciting year for Fujifilm has just got even bigger,' said Fujifilm UK's Theo Georghiades, shown above with…

SONY has released a variety of new accessories to complement the new Alpha 7R IV, one of which is the ECM-B1M shotgun microphone that connects via the camera's Multi Interface Shoe. What's special about this microphone? Unlike conventional shotgun microphones it has a digital signal processor (DSP) built-in, which enables clearer sound recording with minimised quality deterioration by sending the digital audio signal directly to the camera. In addition, it inherits noise-cancelling technology from Sony's audio division to rule out unwanted continuous noise and benefits from a cable-free, battery-free design. Availability is expected in September. It'll cost £340.…

As a founding member of the SheClicks female-only Facebook group (set up by former AP Technical Editor Angela Nicholson), I am proud to see the community grow from a handful of people to over 4,000 at the time of writing. It's grown in number and diversity, with members from across the world, with all skill levels and a variety of backgrounds. What always catches my attention are the varied discussions about photography that pop up from time to time. One in particular struck a chord with me a few weeks back - it was discussing at what point are you entitled to call yourself ‘a photographer'. Many women are guilty of suffering from ‘imposter syndrome', so it wasn't surprising to see the issue spring up in the group, but it…

Thank you for at last laying to rest the myth that you must turn off your camera's image-stabilising system before using a camera on a tripod. I first encountered this myth, a few years ago. I had one of my Lumix cameras on a tripod, and set at a polite distance from another group of photographers. As I waited for the sunset to develop, I could hear one of the other photographers as he offered advice on the use of graduated filters, and the selection and use of lenses. Initially I thought he was perhaps being a bit assertive, but that he was also trying to give good advice to the other photographers. Then I heard him tramping towards me. He bent down a little and began to closely examine…

Mobile phone apps Three apps are of particular use: The Photographer’s Ephemeris, The BBC Weather App, and a compass app (provided with many mobile phones). Each of these will help you to plan your shoot. Compass The sun rises in the east, sets in the west and – in the northern hemisphere – travels across the southern sky during any day. A compass helps to anticipate when it will be in the best position for your chosen subject. Lens hood A good, deep lens hood helps to eliminate, or at least significantly reduce, flare when there is a risk of low, strong directional light hitting the lens and potentially spoiling your shots. Rain cover When you’re shooting the dramatic light just before a storm it’s easy to get caught out.…

Cupped hands Shots like this and the one above are done with the baby lying on a black cloth and photographed from above, though it looks like the baby is suspended in the air. Fingers and toes Kristina uses her Canon 50mm f/2.5mm macro lens to get close-up shallow-depth-of-field shots of baby's fingers and toes. This was taken at f/2.8 at ISO 640. Details Kristina often presents a collage of close-up detail shots, including the baby's face, nose and ears. She produces a mixture of b&w and colour images from the shoot. Swaddling Newborns are calmed by being wrapped in a blanket, and are likely to go back to sleep fairly quickly after being removed from the car seat and clothes they arrived in.…

Take a chance Be open to chance, and shoot even if you aren't sure it's going to work. Unexpected elements can make a picture, even if you were anticipating something different from your image. Go low It's easy to work at eye level when wandering the streets, but don't forget that you can introduce dynamism to your images by taking a different perspective, such as shooting from the ground. Perfect timing The decisive moment is everything when you're attempting candid photography. Take your time and try to anticipate the action that is unfolding in front of you, as Kartal has done here. Be prepared The steps and wall in this shot are already photogenic in their own right, but the addition of the woman in the stripy skirt completes the…

1 Tweak curves The Curves tool in Photoshop is really useful and should be the first port of call when working on any image. I use it to make tonal alterations and tweak colour and contrast. The ‘S' curve is popular, but be sure to experiment. 2 Clean up Don't be afraid to make alterations. If there's a distraction, why not get rid of it? I actually removed a road in the third frame to make the final picture cleaner. If nothing else, remember to get rid of dust spots! 3 Adjust Output Levels By adjusting the Output Levels you can stop your image clipping in the shadows and highlights. You will not retain detail in a pure white or black area of the image, but you will have tone,…

With today's smartphone cameras being so good, you might be under the impression that the trusty compact no longer has reason to exist. Premium compact-camera manufacturers have been forced to look at ways to differentiate their models from smartphones to ensure they continue to appeal and don't die a death. By offering high-quality optics, a large APS-C size sensor, robust body, intuitive control layout and modern conveniences such as Wi-Fi connectivity and touchscreen control, there's still a very valid reason to carry a premium compact in your pocket and one that'll ultimately deliver superior image quality to that of any smartphone camera. The Ricoh GR III, like its predecessors, is a photographer's camera. It's simplistic in its design, yet provides the manual control and excellent level of customisation you want…

Hydration The bag features a tunnel pass, allowing a two-litre hydration reservoir to be used. Quick shelf This is the name given to the removable divider system. It combines with multi-access via the top and sides. Camera compartment The space allocated to carrying camera kit measures 26x13x46.5cm. Colour The bag is available in a bright blue/black or more understated black/dark grey finish. ● £175 ● www.lowepro.co.uk THE PHOTO Active BP 300 AW is the latest everyday photo backpack to be added to Lowepro's extensive range of bags for photographers. Aimed at enthusiasts who'd like a backpack that splits its internal space 50/50 between an area dedicated to carrying camera kit and a top section for personal items, it has top and dual side entry points for convenient access and a…

FUJIFILM has announced two new lenses for its X-system and medium-format GFX cameras. First up is the Fujinon XF16-80mmF4 R OIS WR 5x zoom. Offering an extremely versatile 24-120mm equivalent zoom range, this lens is relatively light and compact, weighing a mere 440g and just under 89mm in length. As well as a constant f/4 aperture throughout the focal length range, it has a minimum shooting distance of 35cm. There are 16 elements in 12 groups, including three aspherical lens elements and an ED aspherical lens that is said to avoid aberrations and curvature. It also offers six stops of image stabilisation. Durability is another selling point; the lens is water- and dust-resistant and can be used in temperatures as low as -10°C. The XF16-80mmF/4 R OIS WR will go…

WITH THE A7R IV, Sony has taken many of the comments made about its A7R III on board and looked to address them to produce an even better all-rounder. A quick inspection of our first shots taken with it reveals that it's capable of resolving mind-blowing levels of detail from its sensor (see page 5), giving users greater flexibility when it comes to cropping and preserving the finest details in any given scene. Though the look and styling don't appear much different, there's more to the A7R IV than first meets the eye. You immediately notice the larger grip when it's picked up, which helps give it a more substantial feel in the hand without being overly bulky. It's by far the best-feeling A7-series camera Sony has made, and we…

Susan Ridge is the first woman to hold the rank of Major General in the British Army. It's a remarkable achievement, and one that required her uniform to be custom made. Ridge is just one of 278 members of the British Army that portrait photographer Rory Lewis has captured in recent years. It's a striking picture, and one that sums up the mix of professionalism, determination and authority required to succeed in such a role. Lewis's portrait of the Major General appears in a new exhibition at Wex Photo Video in Manchester, alongside images of, among others, Karl Pilkington (the buffoon from An Idiot Abroad ), Olympic gymnast Beth Tweddle, and British actor Ian McShane (better known as Lovejoy), all taken over the past 10 years. It's an eclectic mix,…

THIS is an interesting issue, and not just because of the Bonnie and Clyde-esque couple on the cover. Why is the ripped geezer needed at all, as the woman looks a very competent water skier in her own right? In the editor's letter, the redoubtable FJ Mortimer talks about how difficult photography was ‘60 years ago' and it comes as a shock to realise he was talking about… 1872. Some of the points FJ makes are still relevant. ‘Yet many of the photographs of early workers, who helped make the path smoother for the amateur of today, will live after many modern “snapshots” are forgotten. The present generation… should think of this and take their hobby more seriously.' Well said, sir. He then goes into a melancholy reflection on photographs…

1 For maximum atmosphere, shoot during the golden hours in the early morning or late afternoon. 2 Use frontal lighting to reveal strong detail in a subject. 3 When shooting in overcast light, use your preferred image-processing software to later boost the contrast a little. 4 Make the most of sidelighting to reveal texture and give a more three-dimensional interpretation of the subject. 5 Try backlighting for more drama, creating clear silhouettes against brightly lit backgrounds. 6 Use strong shadows created by backlighting as part of the composition. You can even make shadows the subject. 7 When shooting against the light, never look directly into the sun, even when wearing sunglasses. 8 Avoid direct sunlight falling on the lens and creating flare. Use a lens hood. 9 If there are…

The winner of Round Six – Street Life can choose products of up to £1,000 in value (based on Sigma's RRP) as their prize. If the winner's choice of lens is above this amount, they can choose to pay the difference. Classic street photography is usually shot on wideangle to standard lenses, and Sigma has plenty of options in this area. There's the SIGMA 24mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art (£799.99), which is capable of resolving outstanding detail while producing smooth, pleasing bokeh. Alternatively, why not consider the SIGMA 40mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art (£1,099.99). This lens received five stars when reviewed in AP 2 March.…

1 Be aware of the difference between a monitor image and a printed one. Monitors are luminous and project light; prints reflect light. They look different. 2 Use the ‘Soft Proof' facility in post-production software to try to match your image with the type of paper you are going to get it printed on. 3 Consider alternatives to paper prints. Look at canvas, acrylic, aluminium, steel or even natural wood. 4 When considering having your work framed, have the image mounted on to a backing board. There is nothing worse than looking at an image in a frame and finding out it's buckled, reflecting light from all angles, and you are unable to see the image properly. 5 Consider your options for the type of glass carefully. Go for ‘Clarity'…

A CONCERN of some might be that the GR III's lens has a field of view that's too wide. There may be times when the 28mm equivalent focal length is too short, and it's in these situations where the GR III's digital crop modes can be used to get in closer. As well as a 35mm crop mode that produces a 15MP image, there's a 50mm crop mode that creates a 7MP image. Activating these crop modes is simple enough from the menu, but to access them faster you can assign them to a function button. When a crop mode is selected the focal length is displayed in the top right corner and the preview image fills the screen. For times when the GR III's lens isn't wide enough there's…

The smaller version of the backpack reviewed above is the Lowepro Photo Active BP 200 AW (£149). It has the same three-tier shelf arrangement for storing photo kit, but it’s designed for those using smaller DSLRs or mirrorless cameras who want to carry one attached lens such as a standard zoom and an additional lens. The camera compartment measures 22x11x27cm, there’s space to store a 10inch tablet or two-litre hydration reservoir, and it weighs 1.22kg. Otherwise, it’s virtually identical to the Photo Active BP 300 AW.…

Options to protect camera in a bag Q I'm planning several long weekends with a friend to various European capitals this summer, and although I only want to take a normal rucksack and handbag with me, I'd like to carry my Fujifilm mirrorless and spare lens along too. Is there something I could put them in to protect them, but that's small enough to squeeze inside a bag with my clothes? I'm not looking to spend a fortune, and don't really want to add another camera bag to my existing collection. Jennifer Bennett A It seems there’s now a storage solution for every occasion and purpose, and there’s certainly something that springs to mind for this, Jennifer: a padded camera insert. These compact softshell cases with protective dividers come in…

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…