Innholdsfortegnelse for 26/04/2022 i Amateur Photographer

I well remember the first time I agreed to shoot a wedding. Scary, indeed – it’s hard to think of a bigger photographic responsibility. It was a case of feeling the fear and doing it anyway, however, and it definitely made me a better photographer. The gratitude from the couple was hugely rewarding, too. So, if a friend or relative has asked you to shoot their wedding, or you fancy trying it out professionally, this issue is for you, as we’ve got lots of practical tips and gear advice from seasoned wedding shooters. The other massive highlight of this issue is the AP Awards 2022, here in print after a glittering live event in central London. Read on for details of our favourite cameras, lenses and accessories, along with the…

To congratulate the AP Pic of the Week winner, Fujifilm is giving the winner a £25 voucher to spend on any photo prints or gifts at myFUJIFILM.co.uk, so that they can print their image any way they like! Simply go to myFUJIFILM.co.uk, select what you want, then enter your given voucher code at checkout. The voucher is valid for 6 months and can be used in multiple transactions. No monetary eligibility or exchange. Need help using your code? Contact myfujifilm_uk@fujifilm.com *THE PRIZE APPLIES TO UK WINNERS ONLY. PLEASE ALLOW UP TO 28 DAYS FOR DELIVERY…

CINESTILL’s crowdfunding campaign, launched in late March, for its 400Dynamic colour negative film has raised over $792,000 with the company now planning to release the films in 35mm, 120, 4x5 and 220 formats. The firm was originally going to release 400D in just 35mm and 120 formats. CineStill’s 400Dynamic (aka 400D) is a fine grain film that the firm says is designed to deliver a soft colour palette with natural saturated colour and rich, warm skin tones. CineStill says it expects to have completed testing and begun manufacturing of the 220 format by the fourth quarter of 2022, with expectations for fulfilment by December 2022. Go to www.cinestillfilm.com.…

25 April 1998 THIS week’s cover story was an interview with leading US nature photographer Art Wolfe about his switch from animal to human subjects for his latest book, Tribes, a visual tribute to indigenous peoples around the world. Five years in the making the book sprang from an project he did with the United Nations called Endangered Peoples. ‘I hate the fact that we are accelerating the demise of these cultures,’ he told AP. In week 16 of AP’s mammoth 100-part Pictures of the Century series, we told the story behind Richard Avedon’s iconic 1955 fashion picture ‘Dovima with Elephants’, which marked the beginning of a new, less-studio-bound era in fashion photography. The image was shot in Paris, on the set of the circus movie, Trapeze (starring Burt Lancaster…

Write to the Editor at ap.ed@kelsey.co.uk and include your full postal address. Please don’t send letters in the post as there is no one in the office to receive them. Replies are from the Editor unless otherwise stated DSLR not dead Three years ago I switched to mirrorless from my beloved Canon EOS 5D Mark III. Why? I loved the 5D apart from one aspect. Its low light performance was dismal, particularly with anything above ISO 2000. As time and technology moved on I decided to take a chance with the Canon EOS R. I am not sure how many of those that slated the camera had actually taken the time to really try it out, but for me it was a total game-changer. The higher resolutions and low light…

Gurvir Johal Birmingham-based Gurvir is a specialist in Asian and Indian weddings who is ranked Number 3, World’s Best Wedding Photographer in the One Eyeland International Awards. He’s also an SWPP Fellowship photographer and works closely with the society. See www.gurvirjohal.com, www.instagram.com/ gurvir_johal/ and twitter.com/Gurvy_johal GURVIR, who is internationally recognised for his skill at shooting Asian and Indian weddings, describes himself as a long-time Nikon ‘fanboy’ who now swears by the Z 6II. ‘As well as the invaluable dual memory card slots, the Z 6II is so light and nimble, which is really important for me. Asian and Indian weddings can sometimes be 20 hours long, over one day. Or I can be doing three weddings back to back... So it can be very physically demanding. A bulkier body and…

Why we like it ● Comprehensively featured ● Excellent tonality controls ● Attractive output ● Affordable subscription Within the crowded imaging software market, Zoner Photo Studio X (ZPS) stands out for its sheer breadth of capabilities. In fact, it promises to do pretty much everything you might need once when you get home from taking pictures. It can be used to download and organise pictures from your camera, develop and edit raw files, and then build web galleries or buy prints. It’ll even integrate with external services such as Dropbox and Facebook. Available for Windows only, ZPS boasts a full suite of raw development tools, with a particularly useful range of tonality controls that go beyond those offered by other programs. It also provides a degree of layer-based editing. Then…

‘Benro has looked at every aspect of how monopods are used and re-thought the ideal solution’ Why we like it ● Supports large telephotos ● Excellent fit and finish ● Clever design ● Arca Swiss compatible It may be pricey and have a cheesy name, but this is genuinely one of the best monopods we’ve ever used. Benro has looked at every aspect of how monopods are used and re-thought the ideal solution. This starts with the unusual combination of leg locks, with a single clip-lock at the top that enables quick and easy height adjustment. It’s joined by four twist-type locks which provide waterproofing while keeping the weight down. The innovation continues at the top, with a bowl head of the kind more usually seen on video kit that…

Why we like it ● Makes beautiful prints ● Portable design ● Intuitive app ● Bluetooth connection We’ve long admired Fujifilm’s Instax film printers, which produce instant prints from images stored on your smartphone, so were especially pleased when this wide-format model finally appeared. It produces prints that measure approximately 6x10cm, which is more than double the size of Instax Mini, and 60% larger than Instax Square. It’s portable, too, being powered by an integrated Li-ion battery that promises 100 prints per charge, equating to ten packs of film. It recharges via a Micro USB port. Operation is via the eponymous app for Android and iOS, with the printer linking to your phone via a robust and easy-to-use Bluetooth connection. After initial pairing, all you have to do is switch…

Why we like it ● Superb optical quality ● Remarkably useful zoom range ● Impressive close-up capability ● Great build quality This premium ultra-wide zoom offers Micro Four Thirds users a uniquely useful range, from 16mm equivalent ultra-wideangle to 50mm equivalent. It also benefits from an impressive close-up capability, with a minimum focus distance of just 23cm. This makes it dramatically more versatile than conventional wide zooms, which means it can stay on the camera more of the time. Like the rest of the Pro line, the 8-25mm f/4 is designed for use in harsh conditions, with an IPX-1 rating for dust- and splash-proofing, while also being freezeproof to -10°C. A space-saving retractable design reduces the packed length by 25mm. Autofocus is quick and silent, and the focus ring can…

Why we like it ● Sensational image quality ● Relatively compact body ● Effective stabilisation ● Lovely in-camera colour With the GFX100S, Fujifilm has taken all the best bits of its 102MP medium format GFX100 and placed them in a considerably smaller body at little more than half the price. The result is a camera that delivers sumptuous image quality, yet takes up no more space in your bag than a high-end full-frame DSLR. It’s a particularly attractive proposition for landscape photographers, or indeed anyone who demands the ultimate image quality without sacrificing portability. Fujifilm has also made it remarkably easy to get the best from all those pixels, regardless of whether you’re using a tripod or shooting handheld. The low-shock shutter and effective in-body stabilisation combine to minimise image…

THIS CAMERA was clearly designed with video-centric creators in mind, but it holds its own when capturing stills as well. Perhaps the most surprising thing about the GH6 is the fact that it costs £2,000. There’s no camera within its price bracket that comes close to offering a similar set of specifications and options for video recording. The GH6 is the camera many hoped the GH5 II would be. Indeed given the price, it begs a question. Why would anybody buy a GH5 II when £200 more gets them a new 25.2MP sensor, improved audio functionality, hand-held 100MP high-resolution stills, 5.7K/60p, C4K/120p, Apple ProRes, V-Log, and 96kHz/24-bit audio? By no means is the GH6 perfect. It’s still using a contrast-based AF system, it lacks internal raw video recording and has…

SOMETIMES ‘good’ is good enough, and for many, that will be the case with the Tamron 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3mm lens. Those who are more interested in capturing the moment than pixel peeping will get along fine with the lens, particularly if the images will only ever be viewed on a screen, whether it is a smartphone, tablet, monitor or television. It will also be acceptable for prints up to around A4 in size. In hand, the lens feels nice, with nothing particular to report, and it can’t be overstated just how convenient the lens is. It is a jack of all trades but master of none, but this is a compromise worth considering for many. With a bit of care when it comes to focusing and keeping the camera steady, it…

Cameras Cameras come in three types: DSLRs with optical viewfinders, mirrorless models with electronic viewing, and compact cameras with non-interchangeable lenses 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 cameras that use electronic viewfinders. The latest models are true alternatives to DSLRs, offering the same image quality and creative options. Camera manufacturers offer a range of options, from simple, relatively inexpensive beginner-friendly designs, to sophisticated professional models. In the middle of the range you’ll find enthusiast cameras with more-advanced control layouts. Meanwhile the term ‘compact’ refers to cameras with built-in lenses, regardless of their size. Many offer excellent image quality and…

Tonight’s Film by Bill Brandt Another example of the high-profile names working for The Picture Post during its heyday, this shot was taken by Bill Brandt (1904-1983). It shows Alice, a barmaid from Bermondsey, using her day off to go to the cinema, London, 1939. She is looking at a poster for Norman Z McLeod’s romantic comedy, There Goes My Heart. The image was used in the story ‘A Barmaid’s Day’ published in April 1939. Generally regarded as one of the most important British photographers of the 20th century, Brandt has an English Heritage blue plaque outside his former home in Kensington, London. 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 1854, today…

ADAM Ferguson has been chosen as Photographer of the Year in the Sony World Photography Awards 2022 for his project Migrantes – a series of black & white portraits made with the subjects, migrants waiting to cross into the USA from Mexico. Ferguson had set up a medium format camera on a tripod, with a cable release, and then allowed the individuals in the photograph to choose the moment to capture their own self-portrait image. He shot the project for The New York Times, in Mexico, during April and May 2021. Mike Trow, chair of the Pro competition judges, commented, ‘By giving his subjects the shutter release, Adam hands a certain power to the sitter to make that decision on how to be perceived. These photographs are beautiful, meaningful and…

US CIVIL rights photographer, activist and academic Doris Derby has died aged 82, of cancer, after a career that often focused on documenting the struggles of black people in the segregated south. She photographed students listening to visiting speakers such as Amir Baraka and Stokely Carmichael, children in urban settings, and those working for the civil rights movement. In 1968 she began to help press photographers and filmmakers visiting the state by joining Southern Media, a community darkroom and offices in Jackson, Mississippi. That year she was a press co-ordinator at the National Democratic Convention in Chicago. Derby explained, ‘I knew that we did not have our history in history books and I knew that we had a lot of achievements. I wanted to make sure I recorded whatever I…

As a weekly magazine we test more photo gear than any other UK publication and our tests are respected around the world for their depth, authority and independence. Consequently the AP Awards, which have been an annual highlight in the calendar for over 40 years, are held in high regard within the global camera industry. The 2022 AP Awards were held earlier this month at the prestigious Institution of Engineering and Technology in London and the products revealed over the next few pages are this year’s winners. The cameras and lenses available today are the most technologically advanced ever produced and the ones featured here are the cream of the crop. We’re also blessed with a greater variety of innovative and well-designed accessories than we have ever had, and this…

We created our Hero of Photography Award in 2020 to recognise people who have done something great within the world of photography for the benefit of others. This year’s recipient is Jemella Ukaegbu. The UKBFTOG community that she founded started out as a social group for black female photographers in the UK to connect with each other and share their experiences, ask questions, run training workshops and go to events together. ‘Being the only black female photographer in a room of your peers can feel very lonely,’ she told AP in our Christmas 2021 issue. ‘I wanted to hang out with other photographers like me who I could connect with and relate to and go out shooting with.’ The community grew quickly on social media and when Covid-19 arrived it…

Why we like it ● Dual-channel recording ● Quick and easy connection ● Good working range ● Back-up recording RØDE’s original Wireless Go established a new template for wireless microphone kits, with its extremely compact, rechargeable transmitter and receiver units. The updated Wireless Go II improves on it in almost every conceivable way, most obviously with its support for dual, rather than just single-channel recording. Kits are available with either one or two transmitter units. Another significant upgrade is the addition of onboard recording to the transmitter units, with each capable of storing seven hours of top-quality audio, or 43 hours compressed. The transmitter can output audio in a choice of Split mode, where the sound from each mic is recorded separately, or Merged, where it is blended together. Further…

Why we like it ● Four focal lengths ● Pro shooting mode ● Stunning display ● Records 8K video We’ve long been impressed with the quality of Samsung’s flagship smartphones when it comes to photography. The firm’s latest model is the Galaxy S22 Ultra, and once again it boasts a host of features that are squarely aimed at the enthusiast photographer. Most obviously, it employs four camera modules including two telephoto lenses, giving longer real optical zoom than its competitors. Looking at this in more detail, the main wideangle camera employs a 23mm equivalent f/1.8 lens, with a 108MP sensor that normally gives a 12MP output. There’s also a 13mm f/2.2 ultra-wideangle with a 12MP sensor, while the telephotos are 69mm f/2.4 and 230mm f/4. Optical image stabilisation is on…

Why we like it ● Exceptional image quality ● Records 8K video ● Compact size ● Sensational viewfinder OVER the past couple of years, we’ve seen the emergence of a new level of high-end mirrorless hybrid cameras that employ stacked CMOS sensors to deliver both high-speed, high-resolution stills shooting and 8K video recording. Sony’s Alpha 1 is capable of recording both 50MP stills at 30 frames per second, and 8K video internally at 30fps in 10-bit 4:2:2 colour. It’s also possible to output 16-bit raw footage to an external recorder. Further enhancing its video credentials, the camera has a built-in heat management system for extended recording times, a full-size HDMI output, and a digital audio interface built into the hot shoe. It can also be powered via its USB-C socket…

Whether in store or online, good specialist retailers play a vital role in helping photography to thrive as a hobby and an industry. That’s why we launched the Good Service Awards over ten years ago. Voted for by our readers, and the retailer’s customers, a Good Service Award logo is a signpost that says: ‘This is a business you can trust.’ By shopping at one of the firms that display a Good Service Award you are assured of a great customer experience while also supporting jobs and businesses in the UK. So congratulations to our Good Service Award winners for 2022, and a special mention to Grays of Westminster for gaining the sought-after Platinum Award for receiving the most votes overall. Here are the winners, in alphabetical order. Congratulations to:…

● £110 ● uk.tenba.com We’ve long been fans of Tenba’s products, and particularly its stylish, functional shoulder bags. Here we’re looking at the smallest model in its recently revamped premium DNA range. Measuring 28cm wide by 20cm tall, this is a fairly petite bag that’s well suited to carrying a mirrorless camera or a compact DSLR with a small selection of lenses. Inside the bag you’ll find a removable padded camera holder, with two vertical dividers and two horizontal flaps. As usual these can be repositioned using velcro, giving plenty of scope for customising the space to match your kit. The slim rear inside pocket for a 10in tablet is integrated into the bag itself, so it stays in place even if you remove the camera module to use the…

When I first took up photography I was living in the beautiful medieval city of Edinburgh. Like many novices I believed that in order to improve my skills I should photograph every kind of subject available, from portraits to pets, landscapes to sports, waterfalls to market stalls. So, when I overheard a conversation between two photographers discussing where and how to take ‘the perfect’ picture of Edinburgh Castle, I simply couldn’t resist. I struggled up the path to Salisbury Crags on Arthur’s Seat with my heavy gear, where I soon spotted a posse of photographers studiously positioning tripods. Realising this must be the holy grail of vantage points, I squeezed in between two of them. Almost in unison, filters were applied, spirit levels employed and on the first stroke of…

Hellebore by Jane Dibnah Canon EOS 7D Mark II, Canon EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM, 1/400sec at f/3.5, ISO 100 Jane from Shropshire tells us, ‘I recently retired and have always had an interest in photography. In recent years I have enjoyed photographing the beauty of flowers. This image was taken in my garden using a tripod to capture the beauty of the Hellebore. I used a clamp to hold the flower in position, placing it in front of the plant to achieve a complementary background. In Photoshop I blended layers of the same image to create delicate translucent petals.’ See more of Jane’s photographs on Flickr at www.flickr.com/photos/janedibnah and Instagram @janedibnahfloralart…

VENUS Optics has announced a ‘red ring’ version of its Laowa 15mm shift lens, known as the Laowa 15mm f/4.5R Zero-D Shift, which more than doubles the number of aperture blades of the ‘blue ring’ version from five blades up to 14. The 15mm f/4.5R Zero-D Shift produces 14-pointed sunstars, which are claimed to be ‘softer and subtler’, and the lens is said to create a more rounded, smoother bokeh than its five-blade stablemate. The two versions of the lens are available in Canon EF, Canon RF, Leica L, Nikon F, Nikon Z, Pentax K, Sony E and Fujifilm G mounts. The new version is set to cost the same as the original lens, at £1,249.…

THE DiGi Swap – a combination holster and companion app that allows photographers to shoot with old film cameras, via iPhones, as if they were digital – is now part of a Kickstarter campaign. The company behind the DiGi Swap, Fireworks, explained, ‘The application interlocks with the shutter, detects the light coming in and out of the film camera, and records it on the iPhone. A macro lens and a projection screen are placed on the camera and the image projected on the phone is captured. It is a patented technology.’ The DiGi Swap is compatible with iPhone models as far back as the iPhone X and SE through to the iPhone 13 Pro MAX. The system is not yet compatible with any Android-based smartphones. The DiGi Swap can be…

Cameras Camera failure is everyone’s nightmare. It’s this reason you’ll see all wedding photographers carry a minimum of two cameras so they have a spare to turn to should one fail when it’s least expected. Batteries A good supply of spare fully-charged batteries is essential as your camera will be powered all day, ready to shoot any spur-of-the-moment opportunities. Don’t leave all your spares in your bag. Keep one on you for instant access at all times. Memory cards If your camera has twin card slots, set up the camera so it duplicates images to both cards simultaneously. This will give you a backup should a card unexpectedly corrupt. Use fresh cards at regular intervals too, just to be on the safe side. Flashgun You can’t guarantee that you’ll be…

It feels a little odd thinking and talking about a post-war period of British art when it seems recently that we might be in a pre-war state ourselves. In many ways though, our collective shift from relative security to the edge of our seats might be helpful when it comes to understanding the state of mind of the artists featured in the Postwar Modern – New Art in Britain 1945-1965 exhibition that is currently showing at The Barbican, London. Using a mixture of painting, photography, textiles, drawing and sculpture the show intends to re-evaluate the 20 years between the end of World War II and the tail-end of the Modernist era. And it does this by looking at artists who are perhaps are less well-known and who established themselves in…

This year’s Power of Photography award goes to a legend of photojournalism: Sebastião Salgado. Salgado grew up in Brazil and earned a PhD in Economics from the University of Paris before getting a job as an economist, but by 1974 he was freelancing as a photojournalist at the Sygma agency. In 1979 he joined Magnum Photos. He first came to global attention with his now iconic images that he took at the Serra Pelada gold mine in Brazil in 1986 – the astonishing sight of 50,000 men digging for gold in the mud of the Amazon, like a scene from Dante’s Inferno. Salgado spent four weeks living and working alongside the men, and when his prints arrived at the Magnum Photos office in London, then-director Neil Burgess took them straight…

Why we like it ● Sensible capacity ● Comfortable to carry ● Good kit access ● High-quality construction This high-quality backpack is perfectly sized for a day out shooting. It’ll hold a camera and four or five lenses, along with a laptop with a screen size of up to 15in. There’s a tripod holder on the front, along with elasticated pockets on either side for carrying such things as a water bottle or umbrella. Camera kit is easily accessed via zipped flaps on either side, and a separate top section provides space for personal items or accessories. Where the Adaptor S46 really shines, though, is with regards to comfort. Both the shoulder straps and the back are deeply padded and designed to facilitate airflow, which should stop you getting sweaty…

Why we like it ● Compact, lightweight design ● Full colour output ● Continuous light and flash ● Intuitive touchscreen control LED lighting technology has advanced dramatically over the past ten years, and UK-based Rotolight has been at the forefront of its development. Five years ago, the NEO 2 blazed a trail by combining variable colour temperature with both continuous light and flash. Now the NEO 3 goes several steps further, with increased brightness and full-colour output via its RGBWW LEDs. With its intuitive touchscreen control, the NEO 3 offers photographers a choice of modes. In CCT, you get variable colour temperature from 3,000 to 10,000 K, while HSI gives a choice of 16.7 million colours covering pretty much the entire spectrum. In Gel mode, Rotolight has programmed in the…

Why we like it ● Very decent image quality ● Quick, quiet autofocus ● Small and lightweight ● Weather-resistant build This compact, lightweight optic is built for use on Nikon’s Z-system full-frame mirrorless cameras. In effect, it’s a much more affordable alternative to the firm’s premium S-line 35mm f/1.8 or 50mm f/1.8 optics. With its 40mm focal length, it also slots neatly in between its siblings in terms of angle of view. Indeed many photographers find 40mm to represent the perfect ‘standard’ lens, offering a very natural perspective to images. At just 46mm in length and 170g, the 40mm f/2 is half the length and weight of the 50mm f/1.8 S. But despite its relatively low price of just £259, it boasts weather-sealed construction, aided by an internal focus design.…

Knowle Hall is a beautiful country house just outside Birmingham. Lavishly restored by its owners, the house is a time capsule of 1920’s glamour – like stepping into The Great Gatsby. Rotolight teamed up with bespoke photo events organiser the Creativity Hub to create a photography experience day there with a team of six models, all kitted out in authentic period garb, and Rotolight’s latest, award-winning lights. The idea was to find out how easy it is to be creative with the new lights, which offer a host of unique features tailored to the photographer and videographer. • All photos taken by Nigel Atherton using a Nikon Z 6 with a Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S lens, and lit with Rotolight AEOS 2 and NEO 3 lights Rotolight AEOS 2 and…

Codecs The GH6 offers a broad range of codecs and formats, including Apple ProRes. Power The USB-C 3.2 port supports power delivery and high speed data transfer. Ports The GH6 has all of the ports; Full-sized HDMI 2.1 TypeA, USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2, 2.5mm remote socket, dedicated headphone and microphone interfaces, and flash sync port that doubles as TC in/out. LCD display Borrowing from the Lumix S1H, the GH6’s 3in touchscreen display can tilt upwards as well as be rotated and flipped. Fan Keeping the camera cool and helping it to deliver unlimited recording times, the GH6 retains dust- and splashproofing despite having active cooling vents. Cards Card slot 1 now accepts CFexpress Type-B cards for video with a data rate of 800Mbp or more, while card slot 2…

LAUNCHED 1962 PRICE AT LAUNCH £107 12s 1d (approximately £107.60) GUIDE PRICE NOW £150-200 THE MAMIYA C-series of twin lens reflexes (TLRs) was made between 1957 and 1983. For users and collectors alike, the C3 is one that’s worth investigating. Film users will love the big, square 6x6cm images. Collectors will just as much love some of the camera’s quirks. It’s one the very few TLRs that offer interchangeable lenses, and because this is a TLR they come in pairs with the lenses permanently attached to one another. Each pair comprises a lower lens with a built-in shutter and adjustable apertures, plus another lens of similar focal length and fixed aperture which reflects its image up to the big viewfinder screen under a hood on top of the body. The…