Innholdsfortegnelse for 7/4/2023 i Amateur Photographer

Architecture represents the largest and the most practical manifestation of human creativity. Buildings are basically giant art installations that we live, work, play and worship in. At their best the mere sight of them lifts the soul, so it’s understandable that they have been a magnet for photographers since the medium was invented. Indeed Fox Talbot’s first images were of Lacock Abbey. This issue showcases a variety of different approaches to capturing our built environment, and offers lots of advice, information and inspiration on photographing buildings, whether they be old, new or abandoned. Speaking of lifting the soul, don’t miss our review of the magnificent new Leica Q3, a pocket work of art. Connect with us EMAIL US at ap.ed@kelsey.co.ukwith your letters, send us a link to your online gallery,…

ISAAC Julien and Andi Galdi Vinko have won this year’s Kraszna-Krausz Book Awards, which celebrates excellence in photography and moving-image publishing. Julien won the Moving Image Book Award for Lessons of the Hour – Frederick Douglass, which connects his artwork with archival images of the famous African American anti-slavery campaigner and writer. Galdi Vinko, meanwhile, won the Photography Book Award for Sorry I Gave Birth I Disappeared But Now I’m Back, a celebration of new motherhood. ‘Acting as a visual diary of those early months, it juxtaposes the mundane with the momentous,’ said the competition organisers. Both winners share the £10,000 prize. The Kraszna-Krausz Foundation is organising events which celebrate the winners’ books and the rest of the awards. See kraszna-krausz.org.uk…

7 days A week in photography THIS amazing image of a full-circle rainbow was captured in late June by Doris Bartelds, a photographer living near Frankfurt. ‘I stood with the sun very low in the sky and right behind me,’ Doris said. ‘Using a water hose with a fine spray, I sprayed the water droplets in front of me and when the sun caught them, I created a full circle rainbow. Rainbows aren’t just arcs in the sky – they’re actually full circles.’ Doris shared her image on blipfoto.com, which encourages users to document their life by uploading one photo each day. See blipfoto.com…

In association with MPB Round Four Landscapes Landscape photography regularly tops the charts of favourite genres among amateur photographers, and it’s easy to understand why. Simply being outdoors in the landscape, contemplating the scene, challenging ourselves to produce something fresh and new, and being at the mercy of the elements can be everything from exhilarating to contemplative. Developing an appreciation of light and its impact on the land’s contours and curves is one of the most satisfying aspects of this type of photography, and learning how to distil everything into one frame is an ongoing learning process. Landscape can be everything from an epic, breathtaking scene to a tiny abstract detail in a rock; it can be a long exposure that strips back a composition to its most basic elements;…

● £109.99 ● 3leggedthing.com If you frequently shoot using a tripod, an L-bracket can be very useful, as it allows you to switch your camera to portrait orientation while holding it directly above the centre column for maximum stability. The 3 Legged Thing Alfie is designed for use with a range of Sony Alpha full-frame mirrorless cameras, and employs standard Arca-Swiss type plates that will fit many tripods. Specifically, the firm says it’s compatible with the A1, A7 III, A7 IV, A7R III, A7R IV, A7R V, A7S III, and A9 II. Alfie is supplied in two parts, so first you need to assemble it. This simply requires undoing a couple of screws on the horizontal part, sliding the vertical bracket in place, and then fixing the screws back up…

HOLLIE LATHAM HUCKER Technique Editor Hollie shares top photographers’ tips on their abstract approach AMY DAVIES Features Editor Amy interviews Thibaud Poirier about his stunning images of church interiors PETER DENCH The AP regular talks to Andrés Gallardo Albajar about his striking La Muralla Roja series GEOFF HARRIS Deputy Editor Geoff gets tips from James Lacey on shooting abandoned buildings JAMES ABBOTT James Abbott tries two approaches to tackling the problem of converging verticals ANDY WESTLAKE Technical Editor Find out why AP’s reviews maestro is so impressed by the Leica Q3 premium compact…

7 days A week in photography BRITISH tripod maker 3 Legged Thing has launched Freya, an L-bracket designed for the Fujifilm X-T5 in co-operation with Fujifilm UK. Made from magnesium alloy, the Arca-Swiss compatible bracket gives access to the battery door and side ports, while cut-outs along the base and in the upright allow the rear screen to be opened and angled. An indent in the upright accommodates the camera’s strap lug, while a screw secures the camera. Lights and monitors can also be attached. The product is on sale now for £99.99. See 3LeggedThing.com…

7 days A week in photography AP picture of the week Water Flows by Peter Kwasniewski Sony A7 III, Sony 200-600mm, 1/500sec at f/6.3, ISO 3200 ‘I was photographing the sunset when I noticed the slow rolling waves. The light was sublime so I decided to use 600mm on my lens to get close enough to capture the detail. The result didn’t disappoint! In terms of editing, as I was shooting at a relatively large aperture due to the disappearing light the ISO was high, so I had to reduce the grain; other than that some minor adjustments to temperature but nothing crazy.’ Instagram @pkw247 www.theharrislens.co.uk #appicoftheweek Win! The AP Pic of the Week winner currently wins an annual subscription to Skylum Luminar Neo, worth £99. Designed for photographers…

7 days A week in photography A QUICK reminder that the PhotoFrome festival ends on 12 July. A wide range of photographic work is being exhibited across the Somerset town, easily accessible from Bath or Bristol. Highlights include Gideon Mendel’s project on climate change, exhibited in MPB @ Rook Lane, and Arteh Odjidja’s work on the effects of the Nigerian oil industry, showing at the Whittox Gallery. There is also a varied workshop schedule. See photofrome.org…

VOIGTLÄNDER has announced the 27mm F2 Ultron for Fujifilm X-mount. While manual focus, the new lens has electronic contacts that enable the transfer of EXIF data, focus checking and shooting distance with compatible Fujifilm cameras. Certain bodies also support in-body image stabilisation and parallax correction (for the full list, see the website at the end). The lens extends about 23mm from the mount, making it highly portable, while the minimum focusing distance is just 0.25m. The lens focus ring is equipped with a lever for precise control. According to Voigtländer, the approximate focus point, as set by the lever’s position, can also be determined without looking at the distance scale for quick zone focusing. Other features include a 10-blade iris diaphragm and an all-metal lens barrel. It’s available now in…

Mike Hollman Mike is a commercial architectural and travel photographer. He has photographed some of the most iconic buildings around the world and has been featured on CNN and in National Geographic magazine. He is a New Zealand Nikon Ambassador. See him on Instagram @mike_hollman_ or www.MikeHollman.com Use leading lines With architectural photography, leading lines can be used to guide the viewer’s eye towards specific elements of the building or to create a sense of depth and dimension in the image. By incorporating diagonal lines, curves, or vertical lines into the composition, you can create a more dynamic shot. They can be found in various architectural features such as staircases, columns, or the convergence of parallel lines in a building’s design. To harness the power of leading lines, carefully consider…

LETTER OF THE WEEK Artificial logic With the AI programs ChatGPT and DALL·E2 much in the public eye, I often hear that ‘all photography is a lie’. The statement is rhetorical and polemical but not logical or useful. Snaps are inanimate objects. They cannot lie. Does the statement imply that all photographers lie? No. If you mean that photographs do not record the ‘truth’, then I cannot communicate with you, for I don’t understand your meaning of the word. A photograph on Ilford HP5 taken by my Yashica FR-I mounted with a fisheye lens is not an image that looks like the real world. But to deny it the status of truth is effectively to say that only vision through your two eyes is somehow the truth. A snap is…

Karen Vikke Karen lives in Copenhagen, Denmark, and is a social worker for children with handicaps. She started taking pictures nine years ago and quickly became eager to learn more about photography. She set herself a challenge to take one photo every day with her iPhone 8 and post on Instagram. Drawn to buildings and shapes, Karen is always looking for interesting architecture to photograph. Over time her style has become very minimalistic. See more of her work on Instagram @vikkeview 1 Using colours I love to include colour in my photos, they have a significant impact on my mood. They can also make for more eye-catching images and help your subject or focal point stand out. For example, I love capturing big facades and if I’m shooting one that…

Round Six Architecture From city skylines shot at dusk with a long exposure, to hidden corners of towns that usually go unnoticed, this category has lots of scope. Shooting in mono helps draw attention to form and shape, while using colour reflects how the architect might have wanted their design to appear. You could juxtapose old and new in one composition or you could fill the frame with details. And ordinary houses or flats have as much potential for a winning shot as an ultra-modern block. Your guest judge Your guest judge for Round Six, Architecture, is Sharon Tenenbaum, a photographer whose vast body of work celebrates the art in architecture. She has won numerous international photography awards and taught group workshops from New York to Melbourne, as well…

111 cameras listed & rated Cameras Cameras come in three types: DSLRs with optical viewfinders, mirrorless models with electronic viewing, and compact cameras with non-interchangeable lenses Handgrip DSLRs traditionally have relatively large handgrips, while many mirrorless models have much smaller grips to keep the size down. However, some can accept accessory grips to improve handling with larger lenses. Lens mount Each camera brand uses its own lens mount, and mirrorless cameras use different lenses to DSLRs even from the same brand. However, mirrorless models can often use DSLR lenses via a mount adapter. Controls Entry-level cameras tend to have simple, easy-to-understand controls, while more expensive models add lots of buttons and dials to give quick access to settings. Viewfinder The biggest difference between DSLRs and mirrorless cameras is that the…

Photo Critique I don’t have any tattoos. Not because I don’t like tattoos, but because there has never been a moment in my life in which I felt responsible enough to make a decision about the way I look that I wouldn’t be able, at some later stage, to reverse. I admire the confidence, or recklessness, that others have that allows them to make such long-lasting and permanent choices, and their certainty that in 20 or so years’ time they won’t come to regret it. While tattooed folk make weighty decisions about their own personal landscape that will, in the main, affect only themselves, the world’s architects make similar choices that impact the appearance and personalities of cities and the landscape that we all have to look at. When we…