Innholdsfortegnelse for 9/23/25 i Amateur Photographer

Welcome to our inspiration-packed black & white special issue, which includes a feature on one of the all-time greats, Richard Avedon, whose acclaimed book In the American West has been re-issued to coincide with its 40th anniversary. We also talk to Piper Mackay about her love of Africa and her award-winning b&w infrared photography. We share a few tips on the best ways to convert colour images to mono, explore the best phone apps for b&w shooters, and look at the best value b&w films for analogue fans. In addition to our black & white content we test the long-awaited Ricoh GR IV compact, and Peter Fenech explains why he is still using a Samsung NX1 a decade on. Connect with us @EMAIL US at ap.ed@kelsey.co.uk with your letters, send…

TAMRON has announced the 25-200mm F/2.8-5.6 Di III VXD G2 lens for Sony E-mount (full frame). The lens is a successor to a previous superzoom, the Tamron 28-200mm F/2.8-5.6 Di III RXD, but promises faster autofocus thanks to the inclusion of the new VXD linear focus motor. The reduction from 28mm to 25mm at the wide end should also appeal to landscape, travel and architectural photographers. Other features include a maximum magnification ratio of 1:1.9 for half life-size macro, enhanced zoom and focus rings and a 67mm filter size (as with most Tamron lenses). More details and pricing are to be announced soon.…

THE ANNUAL World Sight Day Photo Competition organised by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) is now accepting entries. The competition is open to both amateurs and pros, and seeks images that celebrate the importance of eye care, good vision, and the positive impact of accessible and affordable optical care. Featuring varied categories, the competition is open until 16 October, with a grand prize of $1,000 (£734). For full details and how to enter, visit iapb.world/photo_competition…

When did cameras get so damn complicated? Why do I have to get a degree in electrical engineering or nuclear physics just to understand what the specifications mean on the product page for a digital camera? Every time a new camera is released it’s praised for its amazing new AI features (not that I asked for them), or the latest technological advancements, but how does any of that help me understand what it’s talking about? I need a 30-60 minute video to explain the features to me, and if they’re introducing 10 features, that could easily take 10 hours. I don’t have time for that. I just want a camera that works, and takes better photos, otherwise, why would I bother buying the new one? And, the thing that I…

€68 / $80, Kehrer Verlag, hardcover, 432 pages, ISBN 9783969001936 In Emotional Waves, Swiss photographer Claude Hofer turns his lens toward the raw, enigmatic world of Butoh and contemporary dance. Over many years and across multiple countries – Japan, Taiwan, Germany, Austria, and the UK – Hofer collaborated with more than a hundred dancers to produce this rich body of work. The result is a 432-page tome of intense black & white photography that transcends traditional performance documentation. These are not just dancers frozen mid-pose, but psychological portraits of transformation – faces in flux, bodies in surrender, identities in motion. At the heart of Hofer’s approach is trust. The photographs are forged through intimate, improvised sessions rather than rehearsed set-pieces, creating a potent space where the distinction between performance and…

Richard Avedon Richard Avedon (1923-2004) was best known for his portraiture, fashion and advertising work. During his career he was a staff photographer for Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue and The New Yorker. Avedon also shot the civil rights movement in 1963, the American West and the fall of the Berlin Wall. He died in 2004, aged 81, while on assignment in Texas for The New Yorker. www.avedonfoundation.org If you were making a list of the most influential photographers of all time, Richard Avedon would certainly be in the top five and, arguably, he’d be slugging it out for the top spot with Ansel Adams. In the fields of fashion and portrait photography a mere handful of photographers were in his league – Irving Penn, Helmut Newton, Patrick Demarchelier and Bailey spring…

When Samsung announced the development of its first mirrorless camera, the NX10, back in 2010, I don’t remember feeling especially excited by the concept. This was at a time when Canon and Nikon were still the undisputed kings of the DSLR realm, and Sony was yet to flex its muscles with the mirrorless E-Mount system. If you wanted to be taken seriously as a photographer during that period, a professional DSLR would have been on your wish list rather than this new breed of ultra-lightweight Compact System Camera (CSC). Samsung, therefore, with its short-lived foray into the DSLR market in partnership with Pentax, didn’t particularly stand out as a competitor. Flash forward a few years, however, and Samsung had proven that it had some tricks up its sleeve. At roughly…

IN ASSOCIATION WITH... Round Four Landscapes 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 basic elements; and it can be something that allows us to see the world anew. Light is almost everything when it comes to landscapes, and it’s being out in that light, often while nobody else is around, that is such a huge part of its appeal. It regularly tops the charts of favourite genres among amateur photographers, so it’s not surprising that this round is always of such a high standard. 1 Matteo Strassera, Italy New day, new land 100pts DJI Mavic 3, 24mm-equivalent, 1/50sec at f/8, ISO 100 A truly epic scene that leaves…

Greyscale vs desaturation vs colour mixing tools What’s the best way to convert colour images to black & white? In the early days of digital photo editing, the simplest and most obvious way to convert a colour shot to black & white was to swap it from RGB colour to greyscale mode in your photo editor. But that’s definitely not the best way to do it today, and for a couple of reasons. First, greyscale mode is not always widely supported by photo editors these days, and having just one ‘grey’ channel certainly restricts the kind of editing you can do later. That’s the paradox of black & white photo editing – it’s much better to work from a colour image, since this gives you much more tonal control over…

GEOFF HARRIS Deputy editor Geoff talks to TPOTY winner Piper Mackay, about her amazing b&w infrared pictures STEVE FAIRCLOUGH Richard Avedon’s In the American West is 40 this year. AP regular Steve finds out more ROD LAWTON Editing expert Rod guides you on the best ways to convert your digital colour shots to black & white JON STAPLEY Photography writer and former AP staffer Jon scours the market to find the best deals on black & white film PETER FENECH Pro editorial photographer Peter still relies on Samsung’s NX1 from 2014 – he explains why MATTY GRAHAM The Ricoh GR IV is a much-anticipated compact camera. Pro photographer Matty tests it and gives his verdict…

THIS year’s Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition has been won by three Chinese photographers, Weitang Liang, Qi Yang and Chuhong Yu, for their image ‘The Andromeda Core’. Their winning picture reveals the core of the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) in exceptional detail, and was captured using a long focal-length telescope at the AstroCamp Observatory in Nerpio, Spain. László Francsics, judge and astrophotographer, praised the image’s unusual dynamic composition, revealing ‘unprecedented detail that doesn’t obscure the overall scene.’ The trio share the top prize of £10,000. Meanwhile, the Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year award was won by Italian photographer Daniele Borsari for his image ‘Orion, the Horsehead and the Flame in H-Alpha’. Flying the flag UK photographers also did well, notably Tom Williams. Tom won the People and Space category…

26 September 1981 This is arguably one of AP’s worst covers, taken by none other than Lord Lichfield. I’d probably have a face like thunder too if I had to wear that. The cover story was Lichfield’s new book The Most Beautiful Women. As a student in Plymouth at the time, our class was taken to London to see the exhibition – my first ever visit to the capital. Besides the perfectly competent portraits of obvious, celebrated beauties of the day like Jane Seymour and Joanna Lumley, I was struck by Lichfield’s predilection for rich European aristocrats: Countess this and Lady that. Some seemed to stretch the definition of beauty. Clearly the wives of his mates. But then, being the Queen’s cousin, he was hardly the kind of guy who…

IN ASSOCIATION WITH Michael Topham AP’s former Reviews Editor combines his love of cricket as a cricket groundsman at Tonbridge School, Kent, with photographing weddings, portraits and other editorial commissions. michaeltopham.co.uk or Instagram @michaeltophamphotography It’s not unusual for photographers to have a location they love to visit more than any other. It might be within walking distance or further afield, a place that’s returned to time and time again with the aim of capturing an even better shot than the last. For me, my happy place is nestled away in the middle of nowhere deep on the North Yorkshire Moors. This location, only accessible by foot, is somewhat unique in that it’s the only place I know of that has a bridge through a bridge. The relaxing sound of the…

LETTER OF THE WEEK Almost perfect As a long-time RX1 user I’m surprised by the controversy caused by the release of its third iteration. So expensive! No IBIS! Crap battery! X100 much better! I bought my first RX1 (used) in 2015 and fell in love. Traded in about 10kg of gear for a camera I could bring with me at all times. So many of my favourite shots are taken with the RX1, for one simple reason: It was there. With me. Not in a backpack in my closet, like the 5D before it. Sure, battery life was a bit of a joke, but a few extras in my pocket sorted that. For me the RX1 captures the joy of picture taking, it makes me use my feet rather than…

● £282 ● www.wandrd.com Wandrd’s PRVKE series of backpacks has been a popular choice for photographers seeking a modern bag with urban styling. The new PRVKE 21 V4 retains the signature roll-top silhouette and modular approach, but introduces subtle yet valuable improvements to comfort, access and layout. For instance, the expandable roll-top now includes a zipped opening for faster access to the upper section, and the reworked shoulder straps and back panel make the bag more comfortable to wear for long treks. At 1.3kg, the pack feels robust without being too heavy, while updated styling gives it a more polished look than its predecessors. Inside the main compartment, the included Essential Camera Cube offers enough room for a full-frame mirrorless or DSLR camera with three to four lenses, including a…

Daria Fomkina, Birmingham, UK About Daria Fashion and portrait photography are Daria's main interests. See more on Instagram @daria_fomkina_photo How did you get into photography? I got into photography during my maternity leave. It began as a hobby and a way to express myself. Over time, it became a powerful tool for self-development and helped me build a more meaningful, fulfilling life. I’m not a professional photographer yet, but I’m passionate about what I do, and my goal is eventually to specialise in photographing celebrities and inspiring individuals. What do you love about photography? Photography started as a hobby during my maternity leave, but it quickly became something much deeper. It’s my way of connecting with others, expressing myself, and growing as a person. Favourite subjects My favourite photographic subjects…

We spend a lot of time working out how we can extract the maximum amount of detail from the scenes and things we photograph, and we buy ever-sharper lenses and sensors with more and more resolution. I remember at one time, in the infancy of digital photography, there was a lot of discussion about the resolution of the human eye and how the CCD sensors of the day matched or exceeded what we could actually see. Resolution, and the ability to record fine detail, is often very important in photography but, equally, anybody who has ever ‘lost’ a set of keys that were sitting on the table in front of them all the time will know, there is a difference between seeing clearly and paying attention. Most of us are…

APPLE has launched the latest iPhone 17 series, with all four new phones featuring a 48MP main camera. First up is the standard model, the iPhone 17. For photographers – in other words, pretty much all iPhone users – it features an optically stabilised (OIS) 48MP wide camera with a f/1.6 aperture. Then there is a 48MP ultrawide camera with f/2.2 aperture, backed up by an 18MP selfie camera with OIS. While selfie fans might feel a bit let down, a new square sensor allows for zoom and rotate options, so you can take selfies in landscape format without having to rotate the handset. The iPhone 17 can also record 4K video at 60fps and features a 6.3in screen. Slimmers world If you upgrade to the iPhone 17 Pro/Pro Max…

THE CAMP Snap Pro retro-styled digital compact has arrived, with the headline addition being a Xenon flash. The camera also sports a new filter dial, where you can select normal, vintage filter 1, vintage filter 2, and black & white. Other key features include a 16MP 1/3.06in CMOS sensor, f/2.2 aperture lens, microSD card slot with 4GB card included and USB-C charging. It’s available to pre-order now for £75 at bit.ly/campsnapflash…

AP IS sad to report the death of influential British documentary photographer Chris Steele-Perkins. He was 78 and died in Japan, where he’d been living with his wife, Miyako Yamada. She paid a touching tribute on Instagram. ‘His eye has always been kind and sincere towards the people of the Third World, and as well as travelling to Afghanistan, Africa and South America, he has also focused on the subcultures and people’s lives in the UK and its typical British scenes. His research in Japan has also resulted in several collections of photographs… (Chris’s) life as a photographer has been exciting, rewarding and enriching.’ Born in Burma in 1947, Chris moved to England aged two. He studied psychology at the University of Newcastle, before moving to London in 1971 and…

WIN! The AP Pic of the Week winner will receive a beautifully framed print of their winning image worth up to £100. If you Love it, Frame it! ThisPicture.com is an experienced, high-quality framing company with a unique, easy-to-use website. Build single or multi-image frames with a few clicks of your mouse and select from a wide range of frames, window mounts and glazing options. Each frame comes with a three-year guarantee and FREE P&P within the UK. Visit thispicture.co.uk Sunrise Silhouette by Jamie Smith Nikon Z8, Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 S at 73mm, 1/800sec at f/4, ISO 1000 ‘I set out to take some seascape images but there wasn’t much colour or cloud in the sky, so I opted for a walk along the seafront instead. I spotted the…

Adam Chadwick Three. One small shoulder bag (camera with lens and another small lens); one medium that fits everything, at a squeeze; and one large one that fits everything and my lunch. Ian Leonard Seven Billinghams. My first was damaged on a flight to Tokyo. Nearly new. Billingham repaired it at no charge. Six more bags since. What you sow, so shall you reap. Brilliant customer service. Mhairi Chambers Three ...two Vanguard backpacks and just recently bought a Lowepro ProTactic TLZ 70 Slim AW III. Matthew James Baker @cheryllove727 I only have the one camera bag. With three lenses and one camera body. Though I don’t take it with me as the camera goes in my backpack when I’m out and about. Andrew Higgins You know what a dry stone…

In this article I’ll continue with the general theme of colour science that has guided my past few episodes, this time taking a deeper look at the difference between physical and perceptual concepts of colour. This is complicated by the fact that there are two different meanings of the word ‘perceptual’. The first is a physical scientist’s view of what ‘perceptual’ might mean, based on the capabilities of the human vision system with respects to capturing different wavelengths. In this view, which is the basis of the 1931 CIE colour matching model discussed in the earlier articles, human vision is defined in terms of the wavebands within the electromagnetic spectrum to which it is sensitive. The data to support this science was obtained using matching experiments, whereby an observer is…

Shooting film is fun, addictive, and tough on the wallet. I don’t know about you, but with costs going up, I’m finding it difficult to justify spending my hard-earned on even more rolls of the stuff. But I’m not giving up – and neither should you. Shooting black & white is a great way to economise on film, as rolls tend to be a lot cheaper; even with the slightly higher development costs, you’ll still be likely come out ahead compared to colour. To help, I’ve put together this list of my favourite budget-friendly black & white films. And because I’m nice, I’ve even gone to the trouble of hunting down the best current prices on each one (all of which are correct at the time of writing). So, let’s…