Innholdsfortegnelse for 07-Sep-2019 i Amateur Photographer

Even a couple of hours of serious, focused (pardon the pun) photography can be physically and mentally challenging, but what about spending the best part of 24 hours on a city shoot? That’s exactly the arduous task that Dave Fieldhouse set himself, and you can see the fruits of his labour on page 16. Not everyone needs to go to such extremes, but if Dave’s example inspires you to push yourself just that little bit harder, we’d love to see the results. Another big highlight of this issue is a first look at two brand-new Canon cameras: the EOS M6 Mark II mirrorless and EOS 90D DSLR. Both are based around 32.5MP APS-C sensors, and have a fight on their hands in a competitive market. If you’re looking for a…

In my defence I didn't go into the shop to buy a lens at all, but was seeking a toaster to replace the one that had mysteriously caught fire over breakfast. To get to the kitchenware, however, you have to go past the camera section first – which proved to be my undoing. From a glass case devoted mostly to cheap-and-cheerful compacts, something interesting peeked out at me. Lurking bashfully at the back of the cabinet sat the Canon 22mm f/2 designed to fit my original EOS M small system camera – and it was less than half price. Now, I told myself, the last thing you need is another lens and you've always been happy with the 18-55mm zoom that came with it. But, I replied to myself, it's…

I was surprised by the indecisiveness of Leslie Lawrence in the letter ‘Second-hand dose' (Inbox, 27 July) – stop reading or subscribe to AP. I was on holiday recently and looking for a magazine to read. The small newsagent in the seaside village had a copy of AP on the shelf. Much to my surprise was the low cover price of £2.99. It was a great read, so the following week I bought the next issue, and then the next week's. I noticed the subscription offer; one short call and I have AP delivered for the next year. The price per week is far less than one high street coffee – so my suggestion to Leslie: just get on with it! I have had several bridge cameras and love the…

MY FAVOURITE time for shooting urban landscapes is the blue hour. That time after the sun has set and the sky starts to go dark. It's also the time when the city lights come to life, adding a whole new dimension to the scene in front of us (reverse the above for the pre-sunrise blue hour). Any clouds that are in the sky add texture and provide options for varying shutter speeds. Increase the ISO and deal with the noise later to freeze an image or increase the shutter speed and get creative. The Emirates Airline pavilion at Victoria Dock was the perfect location for the latter. An exposure time of 20 seconds was just enough to smooth out any disturbances on the surface of the shallow water (helping with…

At the back of Wex Photo Video, found on an industrial estate at the edge of Manchester city centre is an exhibition space. I arrive here just before the opening of ‘Northerners’, a show of photographs by Rory Lewis, who is fast becoming one of Britain’s leading portraitists. Despite the launch being a few hours away, a couple of the portraits still lie on the floor, while the main man is practising his speech for the guests who will be arriving soon. Nevertheless he welcomes me warmly, and, after a day of catching up with the local press, seems happy to talk to someone who is perhaps a little more interested in photography than the celebrities who are adorning the walls around us. The Liverpool-born, Chester-raised Rory is a confident…

I love going to the Lake District and I’m always struck by the diversity of the landscape there. The Eastern lakes such as Ullswater have a serenity to them, but if you head west the landscape gets much more rugged, giving way to Wasdale and Wastwater. There is a desolate feeling to Wastwater that tends to pull in landscape photographers, writers and artists, and I’m certainly no exception. Wastwater is almost three miles long and half a mile wide, so there are plenty of photo opportunities along its banks. The lake is surrounded by mountains (including England’s highest, Scafell Pike), which also adds to the attraction. This particular picture was taken on a February evening after one of those typical damp Lakes days that evolved into one heck of a…

Verity's superbly composed landscape would work perfectly with WhiteWall's Original Photo Print Under Acrylic Glass. By selecting at least 4mm-thick acrylic glass, you can create incredible depth and brilliance. A black Slimline Case would be the ideal frame and perfect finishing touch. On the other hand, the HD Metal Print would be a good alternative because it reproduces vivid colours with exceptional intensity. Since it is only 1mm thick, the picture even looks like it is floating on the wall. Another more direct way to put the focus on Verity's image would be to combine our ultraHD Photo Print Under Acrylic Glass with an Acrylic Box Frame. In this set-up, the image has a subtle, three-dimensional look. What's more, you don't need to worry about how to mount the picture…

SHOULD you require more reach, the lens can be turned into a longer telephoto prime by coupling a teleconverter between the camera body and lens. Pairing the lens with Nikon's 1.4x teleconverter (TC-14E III) turns it into a whopping 700mm hyper-telephoto prime. Autofocus with the TC-14E III is only available with cameras that offer f/8 support. These include the Z 7, Z 6, D5, D500, D4/D4S, Df, D850, D810/D810A, D800/D800E, D750, D600/D610, D7100, D7200 and D7500. The lens is also compatible with Nikon's 1.7x teleconverter (TC-17E II) and 2x teleconverter (TC-20E III) without autofocus. The maximum aperture reduces to f/9.5 and f/11 respectively when used with the TC-17E II and TC-20E III.…

● £179 ● www.rode.com WITH more and more cameras now capable of recording high-quality video, there's plenty of scope for photographers to explore this new means of storytelling. However you'll quickly find that it comes with its own set of challenges, with perhaps the most important being sound quality. Poor audio will quickly put off your audience, no matter how good the footage. If your camera has a microphone socket, one solution is to buy an external unit. But this can be confusing, with many different types available. However if your videos generally involve either you or a presenter talking to the camera, then a wireless microphone set-up is likely the best choice. The Røde Wireless Go is a tiny radio microphone system that's billed as the smallest and lightest…

Interfit Honey Badger Twin Head softbox kit Despite coming in at under half your budget, Interfit's Honey Badger Twin Head kit could be a great option to sit at the centre of a home studio. Its two 320W heads will illuminate most studio subjects, with continuous lighting options for versatile video use, and they come with lighting stands and pop-up softboxes. Compact and lightweight, they're portable and won't take up lots of storage space when not in use. £499 ● Compact design for great portability ● Kit includes stands and softboxes ● Inbuilt radio receiver for wireless triggering Elinchrom BRX 500/500 Softbox To Go Set Packing a fantastic 500W punch, this Elinchrom lighting kit provides plenty of power for professional results. It comes complete with everything needed for wireless triggering…

IN GENERAL, the easiest way to expand the kinds of pictures you can take is by buying different types of lenses. For example, telephoto lenses let you zoom in on distant subjects, while macro lenses enable close-ups of small objects. Large-aperture lenses allow you to isolate subjects against blurred backgrounds, or shoot in low light without having to raise the ISO too high. Meanwhile, all-in-one superzooms cover a wide range of subjects, but usually with rather lower optical quality. Lens mounts Each manufacturer has its own lens mount and most aren’t compatible with one another. For example, a Canon DSLR can’t use Nikon lenses, although you can use independent brands if you get them with the right mount. Built-in focus motor Most lenses now incorporate an internal motor to drive…

National Galleries of Scotland and Tate jointly own images from the ARTIST ROOMS photography collection – and it is a vast and rich collection of more than1,600 works of modern and contemporary art which draws on resources from several highly esteemed names. Celebrating the work of three of the 20th century's greatest and best-known photographers, the latest ‘Self Evidence' exhibition has a particular focus on self-portraiture and self-representation. It also explores the connections and similarities between the three American photographers, each of whom produced work which was widely considered groundbreaking or revolutionary, and sometimes controversial. Tragically, one thread that unites the three is an often-tormented existence and an untimely demise. Search for identity The ARTIST ROOMS holds a significant body of work by Diane Arbus. The show includes the limited-edition…

When worlds collide Discover the inside story of Nick Brandt’s epic project, This Empty World Canon G5 X Mark II Michael Topham is impressed by Canon’s pocket-friendly premium compact Huawei P30 Pro Is this latest smartphone great for photographers? Amy Davies finds out On sale Tuesday 10 September…

1958 WHAT do we photographers call ourselves, apart from the bleedin' obvious? If you want to annoy someone, ‘snapper' comes to mind, or if are you are feeling more pretentious, maybe ‘visual artist'. Back in 1958, however, AP editor ALM Sowerby referred to the readers as ‘pictorialists' and ‘workers/pictorially minded workers' in his introduction to this vintage issue, so it is interesting to see how the language has changed. One highlight in this issue is a feature on how to take more animated pictures of groups of family and friends. Again the language is quite funny. ‘My French friends were amused at the “tea taking” habit of the English,' runs one caption. As for the morose-looking card players (see below), let's hope things got a bit livelier later on, and…

4.30pm I often refer to people as ‘traffic' when shooting street images. It's not meant in a derogatory way, but someone who is wearing the right style or colour of clothing, is the right age or simply the right sex to complement a setting is referred to as ‘perfect traffic'. 12.45am With all my photography I prefer simple compositions. Soho on a Friday evening in June is generally far too chaotic and busy for what I am looking for. I prefer to stick around until folk head home, leaving one or two behind to clear up the mess. 4am A muted sunrise and a sky lacking in colour or interest. A disappointing reward for a sleepless night and a couple of blisters, but it was only just after 4am, and…

1 ‘If you want someone to sit for you – someone who's important or prominent – send a good old-fashioned letter. People don't do that any more; they send emails which are easy to delete. If you send a letter, people are going to open it.' 2 ‘Have an impetus, a project, something interesting to do, rather than only the jobs which will pay the bills straightaway. Focus on what you want to do and it will open doors. Concentrating on actors, on the military, it got me contracts, a job with Pepsi, commissions for the police, the army and different companies because it shows what you can do, and what you're capable of.' 3 ‘When time is limited, do your research first – that's essential. Read books, interviews, watch…

1 Crop to right dimensions The first thing I do is crop the image to the relevant dimensions. It can be tempting to ‘free crop', but this can be problematic when it comes to printing the image. Sticking to an established aspect ratio will make it easier for you (or a client) to frame the product. 2 Lens correction The first thing I do to an image in Lightroom (or any editing software) is ensure I tick the boxes Remove Chromatic Aberration and Enable Profile Corrections. This makes sure that any distortion that may occur when shooting with a wideangle lens is corrected. 3 Local adjustments Raw images tend to be very flat when they first come out of the camera. I want to make sure that the final edit…

1 White Balance tool Found in the Elements Camera Raw toolbar, this lets you correct colour casts. Simply grab the tool and click over a part of the image you know should be completely neutral such as a grey road, a white wall or (best of all) one of your own grey cards. The Temp and Tint sliders can also be used to fine-tune the white balance. 2 Exposure With raws, we're able to lighten or darken tones with greater headroom than JPEGs. As the name suggests, this slider lets you do this by simulating more or less exposure, much like the exposure compensation dial on your camera. As such, the values in the box represent stops of light. 3 Highlights and Shadows Raw files hold a surprising amount of…

THE CANON EOS 250D is a generously featured, easy-to-use entry-level DSLR that has plenty going for it. Overall image quality is very good, delivering vibrant colour images and enough fine detail to make large prints. The 250D is equipped with a range of novice-friendly features including its built-in Guided Mode, and beyond this there's plenty for more advanced photography. Our only real gripe is the camera's 9-point AF system, which while perfectly functional does feel a bit dated. Thankfully this is somewhat offset by the 250D's excellent AF performance when used in live view mode. With the older 200D still widely available and costing £50-100 less, the question is whether it's worth paying the extra for the newer model. That depends on how much you value 4K movie recording, although…

Think Tank Photo Trifecta 8 ● £69 ● www.thinktankphoto.com THIS compact but well-made backpack will hold a mirrorless camera with three or four lenses. The main compartment can be accessed from either the left or right sides, or through a secure zip on the rear. For sandwiches or other essentials, there is a relatively deep top compartment. Small pockets inside will hold memory cards and batteries, while a larger one accepts an 8in tablet such as an iPad Mini. For hiking, the Trifecta 8 is small, light and comfortable, and for city shooters it won't get in the way on busy streets or public transport. Best of all, it's now available at a very attractive price. Richard Sibley, originally reviewed 14 January 2017 Rogue FlashBender 2 Mirrorless Soft Box kit…

ALMOST all serious photographers prefer to use cameras with interchangeable lenses, as this gives the greatest degree of creative flexibility. At one time, this meant digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) cameras, but these have now been joined by mirrorless compact system cameras (CSCs) that use electronic viewfinders. Previously, these lagged behind DSLRs in some respects such as autofocus. But the latest models have narrowed the gap considerably, and are true alternatives to DSLRs, offering the same image quality and creative options. Camera manufacturers offer a range of models, from simple, relatively inexpensive beginner-friendly designs through to sophisticated professional models. In the middle of the range you'll find enthusiast cameras with more advanced control layouts. Park Cameras was established in 1971 in Burgess Hill, West Sussex. For over 40 years they have…

My university dissertation on Dr Hugh Welch Diamond and his use of black & white photography in the treatment of 19th-century female lunatics has not proved useful in the development of my photographic career. Rarely have I drawn on it for inspiration or thought about it in the 24 years since it was written. Then I witnessed the image of Randy Christian from the series: Big Fence/ Pitcairn Island, 2015-2018 by Rhiannon Adam. I bumped into Rhiannon shortly before she left for Pitcairn Island. How lovely, I thought. ‘Have a wonderful time in paradise,’ I said, and left with a head reeling with images of dashing Hollywood stars Clark Gable, Marlon Brando and Mel Gibson in the role of Fletcher Christian, the mutinous Master’s Mate in the Mutiny on the…

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IF YOU'RE looking for an alternative to Adobe's monthly subscription to Lightroom and Photoshop for processing raw images, ON1 is updating its Photo RAW 2019 suite. ON1 Photo RAW 2020 will include a range of new tools, including AI-powered, AI Match, and AI Auto tools, along with Weather, Sun Flare, Color Balance and Channel Mixer filters. In addition, ON1 Photo RAW has closer integration with SmugMug's online photo-sharing service, while Custom Camera Profiles have been developed in partnership with X-Rite. Noise reduction has been improved, along with general speed and performance, the company claims. Meanwhile, a new ON1 Sync Service is being developed for photo storage which will work with any of the popular cloud services, the company maintains. There is also a new mobile app and a video-editing package,…

Down the Tube I was just reading Online Picture of the Week in AP 10 August, which is about a black & white image of a guy on a tube train. The text with it highlights how the photographer took the photo secretly and the subject being none the wiser that his photo had been taken. It got me questioning whether the photographer actually got a model release from the guy, as he was the main and only subject of the photo? And what rights did the photographer have to then publish it in a worldwide magazine? It's not even a ‘news' story. It would be really interesting to see an article in AP on photographer/model rights, how you can use photos, releases, etc. Even if no article is forthcoming,…

Fresh from an early breakfast and some strong coffee, I headed towards London Bridge and Borough Market to make the most of the bright light and deep shadows. At 7am on a Saturday the city centre is remarkably still and quiet, but I knew that the traders would be setting up by now ready to open at 8am. The streets around the market are colourful and interesting, with many old buildings, vibrant store fronts and fabulous street art. You could easily spend all day shooting this location alone. Always tailor your images to suit the conditions you have, rather than stick with some preconceived idea you decided upon days ago. In this instance my goal was to produce a set of images in a cinematic style, exposing for the highlights…

1 Colour calibration Calibrating your screen or monitor on a regular basis makes sure you're seeing your images without any hue. This will mean the colours of the final print look as close to the on-screen image as possible. 2 Colour space Make sure you're working in the correct colour space. When you export an image you have the choice of several different colour spaces such as Adobe RBG or sRBG. Export with the correct profile or your image might look different when printed. 3 Make sure the image is sharp Although it's good to sharpen your image at the end of your editing workflow, it's also worth making sure the image is completely sharp in the first instance. Printing will show up any softness, so spend…

Life’s a beach The longer you look at this image, the more you take in the multiple individual stories within it. It's a typically British summer beach scene that's divided nicely into three sections – sea, beach and cliff. Into the fog Moody and atmospheric, this image has been processed in a way that emphasises the misty spookiness of the woodland. The highlights are reduced so they aren't a distraction, and we can focus on the shapes of the trees. Look to the sky Nothing speaks of the weather more than a stormy sky, so make a dramatic one play a significant part in your frame. A long exposure helps reveal movement, but don't make it so long that you lose all detail in the sea and sky. Snow scenes…

OUT OF the box, I had trouble getting the Mint InstantKon RF70 to work sensibly at all. But after diagnosing and addressing its problems, I was able to get more acceptable results. It's clear that the camera is capable of producing some attractive images, with its lens delivering sharper results and greater background blur than the Instax Wide 300's simple 95mm f/14 optic can. As to whether Instax film's rather low-fi aesthetic justifies the cost and effort required, that's something each photographer will have to decide for themself. This review has probably come across as a hatchet job on a small camera maker, but it's really not meant to be. I love the fact that we live in a world where companies like Mint can exist and make oddball cameras…

Get more creative with flash Q I recently bought a flashgun for my Nikon camera, but often find its light looks unattractively harsh and dull on subjects. Is there any cheap equipment out there which could help me to get more creative results? I already own a small diffuser which attaches to its front. Tony Bostock A Flashguns are a fantastic tool for bringing additional illumination to a scene and freezing fast-paced motion, but you’re right that when used on-camera, the head-on angle of their light can often lead to flat results. For more creative images you can try changing the angle and distance that light comes from by taking your flashgun off-camera. In order to do this, and still have the flash fire when you open the camera’s shutter,…