Innholdsfortegnelse for 06/02/2021 i Amateur Photographer

Let’s face it, photography can be expensive – not just the cameras but the accessories too. But some photographers – the ones who paid attention to Blue Peter when they were kids – are great at coming up with DIY alternatives to common photographic items. This week we ask two such people to share a selection of simple projects, none of which involve sticky-back plastic. Also this week we report on the efforts of wildlife photographers to help yet another threatened species – the magnificent cheetah; we talk to Alys Tomlinson about her topical, Taylor Wessing Prize winning portrait project; and our series on the greatest album cover photos of all time tells the story behind a punk classic by The Clash. If you’re looking for a new camera perhaps…

NIKON has confirmed it is to concentrate its efforts on mirrorless cameras in a revealing interview with a Japanese business magazine. The Toyo Keizai reports that for the financial year ending in March, Nikon is expected to post a loss of 75 billion yen (about £529 million) – a dizzying fall considering it posted a surplus of 6.7 billion yen in the previous fiscal year. The company’s operating loss for the April to September 2020 period, meanwhile, fell to a defecit of 46.6 billion yen compared to a 17.5 billion yen surplus for the same period in 2019. While some of this is put down to the disruption caused by Covid-19, Nikon executive Hirotaka Ikegami also admitted in a separate interview that the company underestimated the appeal of mirrorless cameras,…

THE YOUNG Railway Photographer of the Year competition is now open for entries, with all aspiring railway photographers aged 25 and under invited to submit images. Organised by the Rail Camera Club, the competition has attracted a number of big-name sponsors including Network Rail and the National Railway Museum. There are several attractive prizes on offer including an opportunity to photograph from the top of the Forth Bridge (Network Rail), a Nikon Coolpix P900 (Jessops), and numerous vouchers for railway-related magazines and an opportunity to take part in a photographic railway experience. The theme of the competition is ‘The Railway Seen,’ using images with a railway connection that have been taken since 1 January 2019. According to the organisers, ‘Pictures should illustrate the diversity of the current railway scene in…

Ian Pack Ian is a seasoned photographer based in Sussex. He works across a number of industries and runs a creative studio. To see his work visit www.winephotos.uk or Instagram @packs.hacks. Stability hacks Shopping bags and drink bottles Sandbags and counterweights are used extensively in commercial photography, video studios and on location for stabilising light stands and booms, especially with heavy mono bloc flash heads and larger flash modifiers. However, you can use readily available household objects to stabilise light stands. If you have a reusable shopping bag, preferably with long handles, and a couple of 2 litre water or fizzy drinks bottles, you have 4 kilos (8lb 13oz) of instant ballast to attach to the base of your light stand, which is sufficient to stabilise most Speedlite to 200Ws…

Like many photographers and creatives in 2020, owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, Alys Tomlinson’s projects and travel plans had to be shelved, commercial assignments decreased and the immediate future reevaluated. ‘I was getting very frustrated not making work. I then thought why do I have to rely on going away to make work and stories, why don’t I work more locally? I started thinking about sections of society who had been hit hardest by the situation we were in. I thought about photographing the elderly because I used to volunteer for a charity called North London Cares but didn’t really have a hook or concept. Then I thought about how younger people must be feeling.’ Alys was born and grew up in Brighton. School proms – a celebration and party…

Formatt Hitech’s 85mm system was already a fine choice for photographers seeking a travel- and budget-friendly option, but the launch of the Onyx filters raises it to another level. They really are very good indeed, with superb quality glass that won’t degrade image quality. They also deliver their promised optical effects without any troublesome white balance shift or loss of contrast. However, while they’re a clear improvement on the older Firecrest range, I’m not convinced the difference is sufficient for existing owners to buy a new set of filters. While 85mm filter systems provide less flexibility than their 100mm counterparts, they’re much more portable and affordable. They’re a great choice for owners of APS-C or Micro Four Thirds cameras in particular, but not out of the question for full-frame users…

Lenses Interchangeable lenses come in a huge array of types for shooting different kinds of subjects 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.…

TREASURES FROM THE HULTON ARCHIVE Dog and Owner at Crufts by Thurston Hopkins A mastiff type dog and its owner at Crufts dog show, held at the Grand Hall, Olympia in London on 8-9 February, 1952. This picture was taken by the well-known photographer Thurston Hopkins as part of a story in the Picture Post, where Hopkins worked exclusively from 1950 onwards. Crufts was formed in 1891 and has been held at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham since 1991. Usually it is held in March each year, but owing to the ongoing Covid-19 crisis, this year it is scheduled to take place in July. The Getty Images Hulton Archive is one of the world’s great cultural resources. Tracing its origins to the founding of the London Stereoscopic Company in…

FUJIFILM UK has announced a consolidation of its Photo Imaging, Electronic Imaging and Optical Devices business divisions into a new Imaging Solutions business unit, called Fujifilm Imaging Solutions – UK. ‘This strategic change and new future direction for Fujifilm UK’s photography business will combine the teams behind Instax, X Series, GFX, Fujinon and other photo operations – and has been as a result of significant change and consolidation in recent years in the UK and global photo market, accelerated by Covid-19,’ said the company. ‘Over the last year, the UK market for mirrorless cameras declined for the first time after recent years of growth, and according to CIPA, in general, the global demand for digital cameras has dropped by 40% since the start of April 2020. In the optical market,…

Being Inbetween by Carolyn Mendelsohn £28, Bluecoat Press, hardback, 168 pages, ISBN: 9781908457592 This moving, touching and poignant series by the photographer Carolyn Mendelsohn has culminated in a beautifully put-together book consisting of more than 90 portraits of girls aged between ten and 12. Exploring the complex transition between childhood and young adult, Carolyn’s own experiences got her thinking about the ‘Being Inbetween’ age and the project was born. After each portrait was taken, Carolyn interviewed the girls. Using the same set of questions for each sitter, she found that they were amazing, fearless, funny and smart individuals, getting ready to take on the world. You can buy the book direct from the Bluecoat website. A supporting exhibition will also be at the Impressions Gallery until 24 April. Check local…

Musicians: Topper Headon, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, Joe Strummer, Mickey Gallagher, Ray Bevis, John Earle, Chris Gower, Dick Hanson Released: 14 December 1979 (CBS/Epic) Best chart performance: No. 2 in the Swedish Albums Chart, No. 4 in the Norwegian Albums Chart and No. 9 in the UK Albums Chart Sales: Over five million. It was certified platinum in the US Fascinating fact: In 2010 the cover of London Calling featured on a set of ten GB Classic Album Covers stamps. The other nine: Pink Floyd The Division Bell, Blur Parklife, Led Zeppelin IV, Coldplay A Rush of Blood to the Head, the Rolling Stones Let It Bleed, New Order Power Corruption and Lies, Mike Oldfield Tubular Bells, Primal Scream Screamadelica and David Bowie The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust…

● £69.90 legs only; £129.80 with MBH-25 head ● www.ukdigital.co.uk IT MIGHT seem odd for us to be reviewing a ‘mini travel tripod’ right now; after all, nobody is likely travelling anywhere for a while yet. But names can be deceptive, and this kind of mini tripod should also be a great option for the kind of low-level macro opportunities that will start to present themselves as we move into spring. While many mini tripods are spindly, unstable things, this is a very different beast. It’s plenty strong enough to support a full-frame DSLR with a 100mm macro lens, thanks to its two-section carbon fibre legs. Each can be set to three different angles using large, easy-to-use locks, including practically flat for ground-level shooting. A set of chunky rubber feet…

AP picture of the week Fantasy Gulls by Carolyne Barber Nikon D7000, 300mm, 1/13sec at f/18, ISO 100 ‘I took this picture in my local park,’ says Carolyne, a nurse who works at a hospice. ‘Gulls are often overlooked but are so photogenic. I deliberately used a slow shutter speed to give a more painterly feel. The blue sky reflecting on the lake made a perfect palette for the background.’ This is a lovely image, evocative of the Impressionists, and really captures a sense of the emotion of being there. ‘Photography has been my hobby for over ten years,’ adds Carolyne. ‘I love the outdoors and spend as much time as possible there. Caring for people who often can’t go outdoors brings it home to me how lucky I am.…

6 February 1935 TRUST Selochrome to see folk as they really are: a strange shade of bluish brown, in the case of the salty sea dog on the cover of the 6 Feb 1935 issue. Between 1928 and 1938 AP was called The Amateur Photographer and Cinematographer, one of several different titles that AP used in its early days as it consumed or merged with rivals and added their name to its own. This week the Editor, FJ Mortimer, reported on a speech made by Lord Iliffe at a dinner of the Institute of British Carriage Manufacturers. ‘To my mind,’ he said, ‘a really beautiful motor car is just as much a work of art as a picture or a piece of sculpture.’ As Mortimer reported: ‘He appealed to the…

African wild dogs are one of the world’s most endangered animals, and yet few people are aware of their plight. ‘There are about 5-6,000 left – their major issues are habitat loss, but they also catch canine distemper from domestic dogs,’ explains Margot. ‘What’s more, they are incredibly good hunters – I have heard of them killing maybe 50 goats in a day – and this can make humans want to retaliate. But they are such a charismatic species…I think we can learn a lot from wild dogs – there is definitely a story to be told.’ The Kickstarter campaign is due to launch at the end of February, but may be subject to change.…

Kevin Cummins I like the cover for its simplicity and for Ray Lowry’s cultural referencing.›It was genius to use Elvis’s debut LP as a template. Pennie Smith’s photo works superbly with the heavy graphics and captures the thrill of a live gig. You know how exciting the record will sound before you play it so it does a perfect job. Jill Furmanovsky A classic photograph with a paradox. For Pennie it wasn’t a cover contender as it was out of focus, yet that’s its greatest strength. The shudder of the camera reflects the energy in Simonon’s mighty swing of the axe. The power of it couldn’t be frozen by a fast exposure. What could reflect the spirit of punk more? Peter Neill I love this because of the energy. It’s…

Sensor 45.7MP BSI CMOS, 35.9x23.9mm Output size 8256x5504 pixels Focal length mag 1x Lens mount Nikon Z Shutter speeds 30-1/8000sec Sensitivity ISO 64-25,600 (standard) ISO 32-102,400 (extended) Exposure modes PASM, Auto Metering Matrix, centre-weighted, spot, highlight weighted Exposure comp ±5 in 0.3EV steps Burst shooting 10fps (9fps in 14-bit raw) Screen 3.2in, 2.1m-dot tilting touchscreen Viewfinder 3.69m-dot, 0.8x magnification AF points 493 phase detection Video 4K 60p, Full HD up to 120p External mic 3.5mm stereo Memory card 1x UHS II SD, 1x CFexpress/XQD Power EN-EL15c rechargeable Li-ion battery Battery life 420 shots (LCD), 360 shots (EVF) Dimensions 134x100.5x69.5mm Weight 705g (with battery and card)…

The crops shown below are taken from the area outlined above in red Shoot in raw and you’re guaranteed exceptionally clean results between ISO 64 and ISO 1600. Push to ISO 3200 and ISO 6400 and you’ll start to notice noise appear, but it’s so well controlled it can be addressed with a little noise reduction in post. Extremely fine detail takes a hit at ISO 12,800, however I wouldn’t refrain from using this setting or ISO 25,600 if I needed to. Entering the expanded ISO 51,200 and 102,400 settings sees image quality go downhill fast. The automated noise reduction that’s applied to JPEGs is fine up to ISO 1600, after which you’ll notice fine texture and details start to become smoothed out.…

Formatt Hitech’s Onyx 85mm Seascape Kit is built around a filter holder set that includes a 77mm Firecrest circular polarising filter, a 77mm adapter ring and step-up rings for 72mm, 67mm and 58mm threads, all in a nylon carrying pouch. You get three Onyx filters in a separate pouch: a 6-stop ND, 3-stop soft ND grad and 3-stop hard ND grad. A nicely illustrated booklet explains the use of each filter and includes practical tips from Formatt Hitech Ambassadors for shooting beside the sea. At £345, the kit represents a handy £61 saving compared to buying the holder and filters separately.…

How can I bring colour to my on-location lighting? Q Over the past year I’ve started to really push my portraiture in new creative directions by using off-camera flash. This has produced some images I’m really pleased with, but for my next planned projects I’d like to bring a burst of colour into my shots with lighting, although I’m unsure where to begin. What do I need to allow me to create splashes of blues and reds rather than just white light? I currently own several flashguns and a battery-powered Bowens studio head. Taylor Jones A The easiest way to bring colour to the output of your existing flashguns and flash heads is to use gels. These sheets of translucent plastic are available in a wide assortment of hues and…

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 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 DS Canon’s Defocus Smoothing technology E…

I must have been around 12 when I first watched Kes, a 1969 film directed by social realism specialist Ken Loach. The plot revolves around Billy Casper (played by David Bradley), an English, working-class boy who spends his free time caring for and training his pet kestrel. The Yorkshire dialect used in the film was difficult to understand. Each character sounding like they were talking through a mouthful of Barnsley chop. The images were enough to tell the story. When the film ended (I won’t tell you how), I wept buckets. I fondly drew a kestrel with my HB pencil set and sent it in to the BAFTA award-winning television series, Take Hart, in the hope presenter, Tony, would choose it for the viewer’s gallery. He didn’t, but I did…