Innholdsfortegnelse for 10/05/2022 i Amateur Photographer

It’s easy to see why landscape photography remains such a popular genre – there are few things that are more rewarding than being out in a stunning location with your camera. We’re really proud of this special landscape issue, as it’s packed with ideas for trying fresh creative approaches. Three top photographers share their tips on shooting in the increasingly popular square format, for example, while Anthony Lamb discusses why and how to take a more minimalist approach. Other highlights include a guide to enhancing or replacing skies, dodging & burning in software, and how to create multiple exposures. Not only that, but we also have a round-up of the best 100mm filter systems for landscape photography. Make sure you enter the landscape round of APOY too, open until midnight…

PANASONIC has told Amateur Photographer that all of its camera and lens ranges will not be subject to any price rises at this point in time. A company spokesperson revealed, ‘We are pleased to say all cameras across our G-Series Micro Four Thirds and S-Series full-frame ranges will not be increasing in price. There are no price rises for lenses either.’ That means prices for the current Panasonic camera line-up, including the Micro Four Thirds flagship 25.2MP GH6 and the 24.2MP full-frame S5, stay stable.…

LEXAR has unveiled the ‘world’s fastest’ CFexpress Type B memory cards with its DIAMOND Series, which is said to offer read speeds of 1900MB/s. Lexar claims the read speed of its Professional CFexpress Type B Card DIAMOND Series should help to accelerate post-production workflows. The previous top read speed of a CFexpress Type B card was the 1785MB/s ability of Angelbird’s AV Pro XT MK2 Type B. The card also has what Lexar calls ‘blazing-fast’ write speeds of up to 1700MB/s and is backwards compatible with selected XQD cameras. Lexar is also developing CFexpress Type A cards, as used by certain Sony cameras. Its Professional CFexpress Type A Card GOLD Series promise read speeds of 900MB/s, and write speeds 800MB/s. They’re due to be available in the second quarter of…

Fujifilm GFX 100S It’s the best camera I’ve ever owned. It’s relatively lightweight for a medium-format camera, weather-sealed and captures mind-blowing detailed images, perfect for large-format prints. Shutter-release cable Much of my work is long exposure, so it’s paramount I have a shutter-release cable, as it will allow me to switch to bulb mode and reduce any risk of camera shake when conducting exposures of up to four or five minutes. LEE Filters I’ve been using LEE Filters for over 15 years and I’ve always been impressed with their capability and quality. I carry six graduated filters and three neutral-density filters. My most commonly used are the 10-stop and 15-stop ND filters for seascapes captures. Three CDs Bit of a strange one, but with the digital age, I have many…

1 The Empty Quarter, United Arab Emirates The desert is a location that’s been close to my heart since relocating to the region in 2011. It’s a place of solitude and intimacy. It can also be extremely challenging. The weather can take a turn for the worse; winds can reach 40-50kph, temperatures as high as 40°C and the humidity can hit 90%. I thrive in these conditions; dust particles in the atmosphere, thin clouds and flat light offer an ethereal aesthetic. 2 Brittany, France From its wild, rugged coastline to the beauty of the lighthouses, Brittany has many opportunities for the landscape photographer. If it’s long-exposure photography you’re looking for, you won’t be disappointed, or capture some of the rolling waves that continually pound the granite coastline. Make sure you…

Round Two Black & White Black & white is always seen as the ‘classic’ genre – a medium that makes images timeless and imbues them with a hint of romance. But contemporary black & white photography can be just as powerful as its colour counterpart, particularly when the vision of the photographer is strong and clear. A successful monochrome image will never simply have been desaturated – it will have been visualised in shades of grey before the photographer even thinks of releasing the shutter. Such an approach is evident in each of the top ten images from this round of APOY. Would any of them have worked better in colour? The simple answer is no. 1 Sabrina Garofoli Italy 100pts Canon EOS 5DS R, 24-105mm at 24mm, 1/250sec at…

It’s still early days in the competition, and we can expect to see plenty of movement in the leaderboard over the coming months. Tommaso Carrara retains first place, but everyone else in the top ten is hot on his heels. Things are equally tight in Young APOY, with only 40 points separating first and equal eighth place. While it might appear that Launceston Camera Club is romping away in the camera club competition, a concerted effort from any other society could easily see the gap reduce. Why not gather your club members together and see whether you can catch them up? APOY 1 TommasoCarrara 110 2 = IanBramham 100 2 = SabrinaGarofoli 100 2 = Tom Ponessa 100 5 = AlesKrivec 80 5 = Frederic Mette 80 5 = PedroLanders…

1 Change the aspect ratio Not only useful because Instagram still doesn’t allow vertical 3:2 images, changing to a 4:3, 5:4 or even 1:1 aspect ratio can produce a much more balanced composition. Find the options along with the Crop tool. 2 Work the colours Moving the Temp slider to warm or cool the colours can have a dramatic effect. But remember you can also apply the adjustment selectively with the local adjustment tools. 3 Use exposure warnings When making changes to the exposure in Raw, exposure warnings will stop you from losing detail in the highlights and shadows. Rather than switching them on with (O) and (U) respectively, try holding Alt/Option as you move a slider to see them. 4 Dodge in the details The…

Earth from Above by Yann Arthus-Bertrand 2017 (originally published 1999), £58, Abrams, 440 pages, ISBN: 9781419722844 First published over 20 years ago, this gorgeous book has sold more than three million copies worldwide. Aerial images from multiple journeys across five continents and 60 countries provide a comprehensive survey of the Earth from a spectacular vantage point – and from a time before drones made it more commonplace. In the newer edition, over 100 new pictures are included, as well as essays from leading experts and environmentalists. Land by Fay Godwin 1985, Prices vary, William Heinemann Ltd, 160 pages, ISBN: 9780434303052 Arguably one of the most essential purchases for anybody interested in British landscape photography, this beautiful collection of black & white imagery covers a good breadth of the country. The…

1. Combine the photos The process starts by opening the images that you want to combine into Photoshop or Elements. Next, on one of the images, go to Select>All, or press Ctrl+A. Now go Edit> Copy or press Ctrl+C. Finally, click back on the other image, or choose it from the Window menu, and then go to Edit>Paste or Ctrl+V. Close the first image down. 2. Blend the Layers Open the Layers palette (Window>Layers) and you’ll have two thumbnails – the Background Layer and the Layer 1, which is the photo you added. Click on Layer 1 and within the Layers palette, set its Opacity to 50%. Next go to Edit>Transform>Free Transform (Ctrl+T) and use the corner handles to resize the top layer to fit better for the bottom. You…

Choose a profile Begin by choosing the Adobe Landscape Profile in the Basic Panel (only available with raw files). This profile gives you a good starting point for landscape editing, because it optimises raw files by enhancing the blues in skies and revealing detail in textured surfaces. Use Vibrance If you want to boost the colours in a sky, then use Vibrance rather than Saturation. Vibrance targets the weaker colours, so it gives the image a boost without overcooking the already strong colours in the scene, which is what can happen if you pump in too much Saturation. Balance the exposure Use the tonal sliders in the Lightroom Basic Panel to enhance colours and tones. Try the Auto button, it’s often surprisingly effective. If the sky is too bright or…

Dodging and burning is a darkroom technique where you increase and decrease the exposure in desired parts of the image using your hands and/or homemade tools. The result of this can be to increase contrast in black & white images, reveal and recover detail, add drama and to even adjust the lighting in images. It’s a simple yet powerful technique, and one that Photoshop offers using three tools. Using the Dodge and Burn tools in Photoshop provides the ability to target the effect to the Shadows, Midtones and Highlights. But even with this useful tonal range targeting, it’s best to set Exposure to 5-10% and gradually paint in the desired effect. There’s also the ability to increase saturation or desaturate using the Sponge tool, which is designed to deal with…

For this second trip, Graeme took a Fujifilm X-T4, a Fujifilm 50-140mm f/2.8 lens, the Fujifilm 33mm f/1.4 and the 18mm f/1.4 primes and an X100V as a back-up – all supplied by MPB. ‘All the kit stood up really well,’ Graeme reports. ‘The new batteries in the X-T4 lasted a lot better, and anyway, you are keeping them inside down jackets, as close to your body as possible, to keep them warm. A NiSi filter on the X1OOV exploded on me, though – their glass is normally very good but this one just shattered.’ Most of the landscape shots on this second trip were taken handheld. ‘Setting up a tripod when out with a dog sled risked of frostbite. The metal can stick to your skin, causing a freezer…

If you’re interested in shooting more video, the most important thing you need to know is that you already have the most important elements in your hands. A video-capable camera and lens are the absolute basics, but much the same as photography, adding accessories will stack the odds of improving your footage in your favour. Gear can help you get a clearer picture of the scene, it can help you balance the exposure, and enable you to capture smoother, more professional-looking movies you’ll be proud to show off to family, prospective clients, or share online. This module will aim to get you up to speed with what accessories are essential, and we’ll touch on cameras that are perfect for those looking to take their next steps. Look out for Module…

● £140-£780 ● www.kasefilters.com AMONG conventional 100mm holders that hold the square filters in simple slots, Kase’s K9 system stands out for offering arguably the most refined design. Its standout feature is a polariser that clips magnetically to the lens adapter rings, which makes it quick and easy to fit or remove. Meanwhile the filter holder is strikingly pared back to minimise size and weight. A thick felt layer covers its entire front surface, to prevent stray light from penetrating past a neutral density filter. A large red knob on one side allows you to lock the holder at any angle, while the polariser can be adjusted easily using a wheel on the other side. Even Kase’s matched outfit case is worthy of praise; it can hold up to ten…

Olympus Tough TG-6 ● £369 ● www.olympus.co.uk Olympus’s Tough compacts have habitually won our underwater camera group tests, and this latest model is still the best of its type. It’s waterproof to 15m, shockproof against a 2.4m drop, crushproof and freezeproof. The 25-100mm equivalent lens is paired with a 12MP sensor, and viewing is via a 3in LCD. This is also one of the few rugged cameras that can record raw files. Panasonic LX100 II ● £749 ● www.panasonic.com/uk A high-end compact for creative photography, the LX100 II is based around a 24-75mm equivalent f/1.7-2.8 lens and a 17MP Four Thirds sensor that features a true multi aspect-ratio design. It also boasts a full range of traditional analogue control dials, and the corner-mounted viewfinder is complemented by touchscreen LCD. Reviewed…

If you’re going to document England, there are several visual holy grails: Royal Ascot, Henley Royal Regatta and the Cartier Queen’s Cup polo tournament among them. Arguably the world’s most powerful school, Eton College is the custodian of several. No photography book on English eccentricities or traditions should be without an entry from the front line of Eton College. Boys wearing floral hats standing in vintage wooden rowing boats during the traditional Procession of Boats which takes place on the Thames close to the Fourth of June to celebrate the birthday of King George III, is a photo classic – the Eton Wall Game another. I’ve photographed at Eton College on several occasions, sometimes invited, on other occasions just turning up and usually getting kicked out – they can tell…

The Smallest Theatre in the World by Evening Standard Comedian Marcel Steiner and Tim Webb on their ‘Smallest Theatre in the World’ outside the Royal National Theatre in London, May 1978. Built in 1972, a standard passenger sidecar housed the theatre, which fits no more than two people – and as such ensured a ‘sell out’ on every tour. The theatre toured across the UK and Europe, and even made it Stateside and more recently to India. Marcel died in 1999, reportedly using his last words to ask his friend to carry on with the theatre. 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 it houses over 80 million images spanning…

NITECORE has launched the world’s first electronic photography air blower – the BlowerBaby – which is designed to help you clean camera parts and equipment, such as sensors. The BlowerBaby features a maximum wind speed of 70km/h (approx. 43.5mph) and gives you the option of replaceable standard or ‘sensor cleaning’ air filters that can be quickly turned, mounted and locked onto the air intake. Using the ‘sensor cleaning’ filter drops the maximum blow speed to 50km/h (approx. 31.1mph). The unit has a built-in 1500mAh li-ion battery, which is rechargeable via supplied a USB-C cable. The BlowerBaby is available now at £94.95. See www.nitecore.co.uk.…

11 May 1966 Back in 1966 AP averaged 200 pages per issue, but ads outnumbered editorial pages by more than six to one. For example, this issue was 192 pages, of which 168 pages were ads, and 24 were editorial pages. (By comparison, this week’s Premium Edition has 24 ad pages and 76 editorial). Indeed you had to wade through 114 ad pages before you even got to the first editorial one. But this issue offered additional value in the form of the extra 32-page Camera Guide. Photography back then, as now, was not a cheap pastime – though at least modern users don’t have the additional cost of film and processing. A Pentax Spotmatic, with 50mm f/1.4 Super Takumar lens, would set you back £149/10’, which is £3,084 in…

1 Don’t always head out at sunset/sunrise or in calm conditions. Some of my best images are captured in challenging weather. Storms, gale-force winds, and blizzards can all add another dimension to your work. Aim to visit at different times of the year, as the sun offers infinite lighting conditions. 2 Keep returning to the same locations and take your time in exploring the area. Get to know the landscape intimately and how conditions can influence the subjects you’re drawn towards. 3 Look for subjects that open the door to a portfolio rather than a single capture. This might be the study of lighthouses or rivers, or simply a collection of seascapes. A collection of photographs relies on selective composition, complementary post-processing, and subjects that create a flow. 4 Seek…

Taking first place with her imaginative dog portrait, Sabrina Garofoli shot using a Canon EOS 5DS R. At the time of its launch in 2015, it was the highest-resolution full-frame camera yet made, with a 50.6MP CMOS sensor. It was described as having extraordinary image quality, an extremely accurate autofocus system and professional-level construction. This model is available at MPB for between £1,469 and £1,679. At the other end of the scale, Ian Bramham’s atmospheric shot of Cottam power station was shot using a Nikon D40. Now 16 years old, this camera was launched as an affordable DSLR that was still sophisticated for its time. It features a 6MP DX-format sensor, sensitivity range of ISO 200 to 1600 and 2.5fps continuous shooting. You can still purchase this camera, which can…

Kingsley Singleton Kingsley is a photographer, tutor, and writer with decades of experience in shooting technique and image editing. Specialising in landscapes, nature and travel, he lives in Lincolnshire but likes to travel to hillier places. Follow his work at @kingsley.photo Sometimes a sunset takes you by surprise. That was the case here. Having taken my camera out with only general shots in mind, it looked very much as though the afternoon was drifting into a grey evening. Then suddenly the glow started creeping through, the clouds lifted and some fabulous sun rays appeared. Without filters, or tripod and working handheld, it was imperative to find a nice composition and keep the image as sharp as possible, while creating an exposure that could be developed after the event. As usual…

There are many reasons to shoot a series of exposures when making landscape images, most of them aimed at maximising detail, controlling exposure, or increasing sharpness. Less often, but just as important, are multiple exposures for creative effect. When you merge separate frames in camera or in software you can make unique, layered and artistic compositions unlike anything in the real world. Of course, multiple exposures have been around for almost as long as photography itself and in the days of film happened as often by accident as by design. Subject or camera movement during lengthy exposures caused ghosting, as did film failing to advance. But digital photography removes these hazards, so multiple exposures become an opportunity. Here we will look at three methods of creating them. Method 1: In-camera…

Round four Landscape The lure of the outdoors is powerful for the keen photographer. Landscape is a subject that is easily accessible for most and there’s a host of potential subjects. This subject is very popular, but we’ve kept the brief fairly loose so you can show us your interpretations of landscape. Whether you prefer grand, sweeping mountain vistas or to concentrate on abstract details, be sure to shoot in the best possible light, as this is the vital element that will make your images stand out. Your guest judge Your guest judge for Round Four, Landscape, is Verity Milligan. Verity is a professional photographer based in Birmingham. She is happiest when outdoors at sunrise, chasing atmospheric conditions. Whenever possible, she loves to explore the natural world, both in the…

NiSi also offers some extremely handy accessories for working with filters, regardless of which brand you use. Firstly, the Clever Cleaner has a large rectangular felt pad to clean square filters, and folds away small when not in use. Secondly, the Bluetooth Remote Control (right) is a brilliant little device for shooting long exposures with your camera in B mode. It’s controlled from your smartphone via the easy-to-use NiSi ND Calculator app. It costs £29.90, plus £4.50 per interchangeable camera cable.…

● £49.95 ● www.3leggedthing.com SERIOUS landscape photographers will often use a tripod. However, when shooting in portrait format, most tripod heads force you to rotate the camera off-centre. This isn’t always ideal outdoors, especially in windy conditions when you need all the stability you can get. Using an L-bracket can remedy this, as they allow you to turn the camera by 90° and still attach it directly above the tripod head. There’s a healthy market in custom L-brackets that are matched to particular camera models, maintaining access to battery and memory card compartments and connector sockets. But these tend to be expensive and can’t be shared across multiple cameras, or kept if you decide to upgrade. In contrast, 3 Legged Thing’s recently-updated QR11 2.0 brackets are designed to fit a…

AP picture of the week The Edge by Anoushka Lynd Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8 at 130mm, 1/1600sec at f/5.6, ISO 200 Anoushka says, ‘I am based in North Devon and generally enjoy making images of the landscape and nature. This image was taken whilst on holiday in the French Alps. The snow and cloud kept rolling in and out of the valley, creating a wonderful atmosphere.’ Instagram: @anoushkalynd #appicoftheweek Win! 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…

FOR THE first time in three years classic camera collectors and users can attend the Photographica event, which is being held in London on Sunday 22 May 2022. The biggest event in the British camera collector’s diary, Photographica is organised by the Photographic Collectors Club of Great Britain (PCCGB). This year will see up to 120 tables for buying, selling and swapping classic and antique cameras. Collectable, users’ and retro cameras will be there, from wood and brass field cameras to modern classics. There will also be early digital cameras, pinhole cameras, stereo equipment, lenses, accessories, film emulsions, paper, literature and images (such as early Daguerrotypes). Photographica 2022 will be at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Lindley Hall, 80 Vincent Square, London SW1P 2PB. There is free parking in the surrounding…

Anthony Lamb Anthony Lamb has over 50 international photography awards. His work has appeared internationally in exhibitions, galleries, magazines, and interior decor stores, and his fine art limited edition prints are collected globally. His book, SAND, is available through KOZU Books. Visit www.anthonylambphotography.com Modern life can be frighteningly fast-paced and overwhelming. In a world of chaos and clutter, where everything is available at the click of a mouse, to understand what is essential and keeping it to a minimum can seem impossible. Throughout his career, landscape photographer Anthony Lamb has determinedly incorporated a stripped-back approach to his craft. ‘The world is only chaotic because of the way we choose to see it,’ he explains. ‘We see the world in such a large panoramic that sometimes it’s difficult for people to…

The one image that resonates is a photograph I captured in the Arabian Desert called ‘Captivation;. I was revisiting a small, secluded desert in an area called Seih Al-Dahal – an intimate collection of dunes that’s positioned on the perimeter of a cycle track. There was a storm developing on the horizon, which offered the perfect contrasting backdrop for the softly lit sand. On rare occasions, I will spot a photographic opportunity immediately, visualising exactly how to compose and frame the subject. Walking over a dune crest, the scene revealed itself, a perfectly sculpted dune field, a balanced collaboration of congruous landforms. In the centre of the composition, as if placed there by a tentative paintbrush, a tiny desert shrub exemplifying the sense of scale and subject interest. In a…

I’m writing on behalf of my disabled son Jordan, who is almost 25. I bought him his first DSLR camera for his 17th birthday and he has continued to grow in confidence. Jordan is passionate about wildlife and landscapes, but is mostly self-taught as he constantly receives knockbacks because of his social skills and also because he has moderate learning difficulties. My son did a Level 1 course at a disabled college, obtaining distinctions throughout. He then wanted to apply for level 2 at a mainstream college, and was told he wouldn’t manage. He passed the interview on his photographs alone – I was so proud. It turns out level 2 was difficult not because of the photography, more the writing – and peers telling him he was an idiot…

1. Straighten up Having shot handheld, I pressed (A) to activate the Straighten tool, where you can also set aspect ratio. I zoomed in to find a straight line then clicked and dragged a line out to follow it. Here, only a minor adjustment was required of less than 0.5º. 2. Balance the sky and land Open the Graduated Filter tool (G). Click the sky and drag the filter to the horizon to reduce the Exposure and Whites on the sky. I also added Texture, Clarity and Dehaze on the sun rays. Another Grad set to -10 Temp cooled the sky while a third lightened the foreground. 3. Clean up the composition The Spot Removal Tool (B) removes distractions, such as people, surfers and buoys. Zoom in and control the…

Landscape photography is obviously a hugely popular genre. With millions of images published every day on Instagram alone, it can be hard to whittle down the truly inspirational from the also-rans. That’s why nothing can truly beat the print medium for showing off the best the landscape has to offer. With these beautiful books, every page has usually been crafted to perfection, representing the best of any photographer’s portfolio. Sitting down with one of these books and really studying the craft presented in front of you is worth its weight in gold, and certainly a more rewarding way to spend your time than endlessly scrolling through social media feeds. You can also refer back to them time and time again, usually spotting something new each time you re-read them. That…

1 Flip it Shoot the first frame as normal, then simply twist the camera through 180º for the second. Remember to make sure the two frames balance and don’t crash into each other. 2 Blur it Take the first image, then for the second, use a much longer exposure and deliberately move the camera for a more impressionistic look. 3 Double it Shoot the first image, then reframe a fraction and take the next. You can even change perspective slightly or walk around the subject. 4 Defocus it Focus the first shot as normal, then set the focus to its minimum or maximum for the second. The more you add, the more hazy and ethereal it’ll look. 5 Frame it Find a strong subject for the first image, then frame…

Shoot in raw This gives us greater dynamic range (the range between the brightest and darkest point) so, compared to JPEGs, we have more headroom to pull detail out of the tonal extremities. Bracket your shots Use a tripod and bracket your shots. This gives you a range of exposures to choose from and the option of HDR merging or exposure blending later. Time it right The most dramatic skies are usually at the start and end of the day. The part of the sky where the sun is setting or rising will be the most vibrant. Check for clipping Turn on your clipping warning ‘blinkies’ in your camera menu to help prevent parts of the sky becoming blown out – if they are, then dial in negative exposure comp.…

The winner of each round of APOY receives a £500 voucher to spend on anything at MPB. You could choose to put it towards the Nikon D850, a superb DSLR that has 7fps and a 2.36-million dot tilting touchscreen. AP said it was ‘Nikon’s best all-round camera yet.’ It can be found at MPB for £1,379 in well-used condition, up to £1,959 in excellent condition. Described in AP as ‘Canon’s finest mirrorless camera at time of writing,’ the full-frame Canon EOS R5 features impressive video specification and stunning electronic viewfinder performance. It is available at MPB for £4,199 in like-new condition. The Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8 L II USM is a fast, ultra-wideangle zoom. It creates lovely soft bokeh but also corner-to-corner sharpness when it counts. A well-used example can…

While the big advantage of square filter systems lies in how they allow you to adjust graduated filters, it’s often possible to achieve a similar effect in software. This can be done either by bracketing and combining exposures, or by taking advantage of the vast dynamic range of modern image sensors. If this is your preferred approach, then circular filters will probably be a better choice. If you only wish to use polarising filters, we recommend Hoya’s Ultra Pro range, which are pricey but excellent. If you’d like to use ND filters too, then Kase Wolverine Magnetic Circular kits are a great choice, as they’re quick and easy to use and minimise vignetting with wideangle lenses, even when stacking filters. For sharing one filter across multiple lenses, H&Y’s Revoring variable…

The task assigned to me for this article was to explain how the ‘Live ND Filter’ function found in Olympus/OM System cameras works. The feature originally arose in some Sony cinema cameras, but OM is the only company currently offering it in still cameras. It allows long exposure times without increased exposure, allowing creative use of slow shutter speeds in low light, in just the same way as a real neutral density filter would. Information on how it actually works is sparse, so my first attempt was to try to understand how a sensor image acquisition cycle could be used to provide this functionality. Let’s first go through how this cycle works. The diagram shows the structure of a conventional CMOS pixel. The red/pink/green structure on the right shows the…